Memoirs of a Geisha - DivX Version (Normal Quality), DVD (Good Quality), PDA Version, HD Ready:720p (Super Quality)
|
IMDB rating: 7.00 Plot: In 1929 an impoverished nine-year-old named Chiyo from a fishing village is sold to a geisha house in Kyoto’s Gion district and subjected to cruel treatment from the owners and the head geisha Hatsumomo. Her stunning beauty attracts the vindictive jealousy of Hatsumomo, until she is rescued by and taken under the wing of Hatsumomo’s bitter rival, Mameha. Under Mameha’s mentorship, Chiyo becomes the geisha named Sayuri, trained in all the artistic and social skills a geisha must master in order to survive in her society. As a renowned geisha she enters a society of wealth, privilege, and political intrigue. As World War II looms Japan and the geisha’s world are forever changed by the onslaught of history. |
Available versions:
DivX Version (Normal Quality), DVD (Good Quality), PDA Version, HD Ready:720p (Super Quality)
Actors: Igawa Togo,Mako,Ikeda Thomas,Okihiro David,Yune Karl,Drama,History,Romance,
What are the character traits of Chiyo in Memoirs of a Geisha?
If you could give me some character traits of Chiyo in Memoirs of a Geisha, that would be great. Maybe some adjectives about her, and/or a little bit about her personality? Thanks so much <3 [:
Chiyo, the fictional character in Arthur Golden’s book, loosely based on the lives of two actual geisha he interviewed, was a young child who, along with her sister, sold in to a geisha house when her mother and father fell ill.
She lived in a fishing town, poor, and is separated when taken one evening to be sold, from her sister, who is deemed too country to be of use in the high end geisha house chiyo is accepted in. Her sister is sent to a hot springs resort; a sort of lower class geisha house that focused less on the artistic pursuits of geisha, and more on the sexual.
In the beginning, Chiyo is what I’d call a scrappy little chick- she’s tough, uncertain and scared, but also strong. Her eyes are blue, an unusual trait, which leads everyone to believe she has too much water in her; which is part of the culture’s belief in elemental balance withi a person.
Chiyo gets into some scraps- mainly b/c she’s determined to reunite with her sister, and b/c the older famed Geisha, Hatsumomo, obviously see’s she has some kind of it factor, and proceeds to make her life a living hell.
At one point, she loses the right to become a geisha, but after meeting the chairman, decides to apply herself in hopes she will be allowed to become one and meet him again.
The rest of the book shows her as a restrained, intelligent, strong woman, who is driven by her desire to be with the chairman. She is certainly good hearted, but also cautious, and most of all, tireless in her pursuits to excell in the arts.
In the end, she gets her man, sort of- remember, she’s a geisha, and geisha don’t ever get to become wives unless they retire- they become mistresses.
Arthur Golden interviewed 2 Geisha; one in particular, extensively- Mineko Iwasaki. Mineko later sued Arthur b/c she claimed he had agreed not to expose her name, and also that he had not portrayed geisha truthfully. in particular, she was in dispute of the practice of mizauge, or the selling of one’s virginity at the time they turn their collar (becoming a full fledged Geiko). While indeed this practice existed at one time, it is not any longer.
If you are interested in learning more about geisha, Mineko wrote a follow up book of her own memoirs, called "Geisha, A Life" (also printed as "Geisha of Gion"). It’s all about her journey in becoming a geisha.
Another very interesting and more factual book is written by Sayo Masuda, called "Autobiography of a Geisha". her story is more tragic, and tells about her life as a Hot Springs resort Geisha, where the women do in fact lead lives somewhat similar to Geisha like Mineko, but in a lower-class environment, with a lighter focus on actual training in the arts. Prostitution is thought to be a reality in hot springs resorts, ut the bottom line is, Geisha are part of a world based on mystery, and they don’t really come out to speak about the life.
Mineko initially said she interviewed with Arthur Golden for his book b/c she felt the traditions of Geisha were slowly dying, so she hoped to pique the interest of young japanese women, as well as set the record straight about what they were (artists) and what they weren’t (prostitutes).
One underlying theme that resonates throughout all three stories, fictional and true, is the effects of the war on their lifestyle. During the American encapment in Japan, the Geisha districts were closed down \b/c of financial and political reasons. A person can only attend a tea house party or have Geisha company if they are financially well off; and also have been introduced to the geisha house owners- it’s a society by invitation only. During the encampment, though, american GI’s would date Japanese women forced into prostitution, who iften would wear the familiar white make up and kimono styles worn by Geisha. They did have any of the strict training that consumes the geisha’s day to day life through out her career, and were not, in that regards, true geisha or artists (Geisha translates loosely to artist).
The American soldiers, who never could have afforded a true geisha’a company on their meager salaries anyways, took to calling their prostitutes their "geisha girls" which is when the prostitution angle stuck.
There’s been a somewhat strong insurgence as of late in the flower and water world, and young japanese women are again joining the ranks of their anscestors, but in no way close to their numbers before.
One of the most misleading parts of the fictional movie, is the love stroy. The world of Geisha is a predominantly female one; and many do not have men in their lives. It’s still common for a patron (also called a danna) to help support a Geisha once she has reached Geiko status, but before then, relationships, marriage, etc are not allowed. If a Geisha marries, she must retire.
Geisha initiated from the time of Japanese courtesans; however, they never were prostitutes, and didn’t even dress as beautifully as the courtesans, as it was their position only to entertain. In some ways, Geisha were even early femenists of their time- they are women leading a live completely self-substabtiated; free of men, and without the assistanceof men, in a country once known for it’s concubines and little use of the female gender.
One surpriosing thing you might find also, is that unlike the book and movie, geisha often are the ones who decide to enter the life- they aren’t forced into it as portrayed.
There’ some wonder books out there and sites about the real lives of Geisha. I first read memoirs when I was in high school, years ago, and while now I know it’s not particularly accurrate, i still think it’;s a beautiful story just one told by an american man, not a japanese woman in the geisha world. If you’re looking for further readin, check out the two book si mentioned above, as well as some of the following.
Three geisha-
A Geisha’s Journey: My life as a Kyoto Apprentice (by Komomo/ photography by Naoyuki Ogino): This is a beautiful photobook with a lot of captioning and some story line. it’s a modern girl
s story of her desire and subsequent journey to becoming a geisha in the last decade. The photo’s are gorgeous, and the story is interesting as well, b/c it’s about the current traditions- and it is a bit different in many ways, yet still very steeped in ancient traditions.
Geisha in Rivalry (by Kafu Nagai): This is one of the best sellers of Japan in the fifties; and an excellent fictional account of geisha in the early 20th century.
also check out the site www.immortalgeisha.com which has an excellent amount of info.
hope this helped!
lola | Jan 08, 2009
Memoirs of a Geisha is a novel by Arthur Golden, published in 1997. The novel, told in first-person view, tells the fictional story of a geisha working in Kyoto, Japan, before and after World War II.
Shvoong - "Memoirs of a Geisha" : http://www.shvoong.com/tags/Memoirs-of-a -Geisha
Gandalf | Jan 06, 2009
Tags: , 20052005, Drama, History, Igawa Togo, Ikeda Thomas, Mako, Okihiro David, Romance, Yune Karl
Powered bij FireStats