Cover of Geisha: A Unique World of Tradition, Elegance and Art

Geisha: A Unique World of Tradition, Elegance and Art

"Rises above many of its competitors, thanks to its ambitious scope...The book's photos and illustrations are frequently stunning....Gallagher's writing style is straightforward and articulate, with so much intelligence and grace, it's difficult not to be charmed."—Publishers Weekly

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Take a fascinating peek into the geisha's world of tradition and ritual with the help of a most unique book. Four see-through vellum sections, of four layers each, begin with a "naked" geisha; they show, stage by stage, how her distinctive costume and make-up are assembled. You'll view the subtle changes of appearance through the round of seasonal events, and the elaborate array of equipment in the geisha's wardrobe, as well as everything she needs to do her demanding jobs. Equally revealing is the incredibly detailed information about the women's training, lives, and history.

Audience
adult
Length
medium · 256 pages

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Liked Geisha: A Unique World of Tradition, Elegance and Art? Here’s where I’d start.

These suit anyone who liked Geisha: A Unique World of Tradition, Elegance and Art. Sign in and mark a few books for picks shaped around your own taste.

  1. Geisha Shares geisha, Japan, nonfiction
  2. Madame Sadayakko: The Geisha Who Bewitched the West Shares geisha, Japan, nonfiction
  3. The Life of a Geisha Shares geisha, Japan, nonfiction
  4. Geisha: The Life, the Voices, the Art Shares geisha, Japan, nonfiction

“People who read Geisha: A Unique World of Tradition, Elegance and Art tend to reach for these next.”

  1. A Geisha's Journey: My Life as a Kyoto Apprentice
  2. Autobiography of a Geisha
  3. The Secrets of Mariko: A Year in the Life of a Japanese Woman and Her Family
  4. Bad Girls of Japan

“If you want more of the same (history), start with these.”

  1. Random House Japanese-English English-Japanese Dictionary
  2. Culture Shock! Japan: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette
  3. The Encyclopedia of Japanese Pop Culture
  4. Shutting Out the Sun: How Japan Created Its Own Lost Generation

“If it was the Japan that hooked you, try one of these.”

  1. Women of the Pleasure Quarters: The Secret History of the Geisha
  2. Yoshiwara Pleasure Quarters of Old Tokyo
  3. Memoirs of a Geisha
  4. Geisha

“These start from a similar idea, even if they go somewhere else with it.”

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  3. Memoirs of a Geisha
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