I'm reading Memoirs of a Geisha and in the book is a bried description of how they keep the 'split peach' so neat for days. Wax!! :no

Wax is combed through the hair to keep it stiff and help hold it's shape. Because the hair style is semi-permanent, the Geisha can't wash they're hair frequently and dandruff is a problem among the women.

The Geisha sleep :sleep: on a curved, hard block placed under the neck and they sleep on they're backs so as not to smush the wax do!! :suspect:

Man!!! :shock: :shock:

Great book though!

and in the book is a bried description

I meant "brief" description.

and in the book is a bried description

I meant "brief" description.


Hahahahahaha I was trying to figure out what a "bried" description was hahahaahaha

I finally decided it must mean a BRAID description, then reading Geisha, I thought "Hm, I didn't know that updo was a braid"! hahahahaahahahahahahaahahaha

and I'm jealous, you got to use my cute little smiley! :suspect: hahahahahaha ;)

Hugs

Memoirs of a Geisha is SUCH a great book!!! I'm surprised you can put it down to drop a line to us!!! I was mesmerized -- didn't sleep all night so I could finish it when I read it!!! Loved it!!! http://e4u.consoleradar.com/happy/198.gif

I read that book when it first came out and loved it! I think the author did a great job of telling a story from an old woman's eyes.

Yeah, and it wasn't just geisha who had elaborate hairstyles like that. Upper-class women also did, as well as some in other levels of society. Most people in the upper class used those neck supports, rather than pillows.

If anyone is interested... in the golden era of Japan (the Heian period, which was centuries before geisha emerged), women of the upper classes never cut their hair, unless they were Buddhist nuns. The literature from those days, such as the Tale of Genji, has drawings of noble ladies with their hair dragging past their feet. Always worn loose, too. (Of course, Heian era ladies rarely stood up, from what the literature says -- and no, I'm not kidding! They couldn't stand in the presence of men, and mostly sat around or crawled! :( ) Anyway, I can just imagine hair like that!

dancingbarefoot, you are too cool! I love anything to do with Heian Japan! Have you seen this website?

http://www.taleofmurasaki.com/makeuppage.htm

This one has a nice picture of the hair.

http://www.taleofmurasaki.com/clothingpage.htm

Oh, Anne! It took me a minute to figure out what the "split peach" was... when you said they used wax on it, somehow I was thinking of something akin to a Brazilian bikini wax! LOL! :oops:

Oh, Anne! It took me a minute to figure out what the "split peach" was... when you said they used wax on it, somehow I was thinking of something akin to a Brazilian bikini wax! LOL! :oops:

I was thinking that too, then realized she was talking about the hair on their heads. ;)

bunniee

Princess and Bunniee, ya'll are crackin' me up! <oops wrong word>! hahahaahahahahaa

I had to think about the 'split peach' thing too, but my mind never went THERE! hahahahahaahahahahahaa :rolleyes: It's cuz I'm SUCH an angel!! hahaahahahahaahahahaha :twisted:

(Of course, Heian era ladies rarely stood up, from what the literature says -- and no, I'm not kidding! They couldn't stand in the presence of men, and mostly sat around or crawled! :( ) Anyway, I can just imagine hair like that!

Sat around... or CRAWLED... in the presence of men...??? Geeeez... I would've never made it in ancient Japan! :twisted:

Elle

Oh, Anne! It took me a minute to figure out what the "split peach" was... when you said they used wax on it, somehow I was thinking of something akin to a Brazilian bikini wax! LOL! :oops:

I was thinking that too, then realized she was talking about the hair on their heads. ;)

bunniee

Well ladies my mind went there too...but then I couldn't figure out about the thing they slept on, and then realized it was on their head! Lol!

Oh, man, now I gotta go get that book too.....I have a list of books that sound good to pick up, where I will find the time to read them though.......

8)

well as far as I know you ladies would be correct -- I believe the idea of the split-peach hairstyle was to get men to think of that -- it was a very sensuous hairstyle!

I read a great book some time ago (I'd have to look to see what the name of it was) but it was all about how women in the Heian period used mononoke (sp?) (spirit possession) as a means of expressing thier emotions -- my understanding is that not only did you have to sit and crawl most of the time, but you were never allowed to express any negative emotions EVER to anyone -- including your closest friends! It was considered MOST uncouth. Women used mononoke to express their negative emotions, so that way those emotions could be blamed on a spirit -- like I'M not really upset my husband just took another wife, but this spirit of the woman who lived 100 years ago who is possessing me is upset about how HER husband took a new wife...

I could NEVER have lived in that society!!

well as far as I know you ladies would be correct -- I believe the idea of the split-peach hairstyle was to get men to think of that -- it was a very sensuous hairstyle!

I read a great book some time ago (I'd have to look to see what the name of it was) but it was all about how women in the Heian period used mononoke (sp?) (spirit possession) as a means of expressing thier emotions -- my understanding is that not only did you have to sit and crawl most of the time, but you were never allowed to express any negative emotions EVER to anyone -- including your closest friends! It was considered MOST uncouth. Women used mononoke to express their negative emotions, so that way those emotions could be blamed on a spirit -- like I'M not really upset my husband just took another wife, but this spirit of the woman who lived 100 years ago who is possessing me is upset about how HER husband took a new wife...

I could NEVER have lived in that society!!

Huh, me neither. I read that because it was a polygamous society, jealousy was considered a major taboo. But you know people had to have felt it anyway. There is a diary published from that time called "Kagero Nikki" about a woman whose husband had other wives, mistresses, quickies, you name it. In spite of the taboo against jealousy, she made no bones about wanting her husband all to herself "thirty days and thirty nights a month," and (since he was pretty frisky even for that time period) they fought most of the time. I guess she was considered a bit of a harpy in her day, but frankly I found myself agreeing vehemently with most of what she said. I guess I would not adjust well to polygamy. :twisted:

I'm surprised by how many of you have read Japanese literature -- I thought it was just me and my obscure Classical Japanese translations... Yippee!

Melusina -- that's a great website! I've never seen it before. :) Thanks.

As far as my studies have told me (granted, I'm a linguist studying Classical Japanese, not a literature person), the spirit possession was common for women. Either they really believed in it, or it was a good tool for getting their way. Like Lady Rokujo in Tale of Genji, who possessed Genji's other lover and caused her to die.

And as for the not standing up in the presence of men.... I would NEVER survive in that era! :evil: Not only that, but men were never supposed to see women's faces, so women had to live behind curtains and blinds. Only their husbands were supposed to see their faces. Hm.

Dancing Barefoot wrote:
If anyone is interested... in the golden era of Japan (the Heian period, which was centuries before geisha emerged), women of the upper classes never cut their hair, unless they were Buddhist nuns.
As I recall from The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon, which is the diary of a noblewoman in the Heian period, even nuns only cut their hair to their shoulders, because beautiful hair was expected of all women, even nuns.
I don't know much Japanese history, but the Heian period has always fascinated me. Nice to know I'm not alone!
Kim B.

dancingbarefoot, you are too cool! I love anything to do with Heian Japan! Have you seen this website?

http://www.taleofmurasaki.com/makeuppage.htm

Thank you so much for that wonderful link. I love the site.
Also, your little icon is from Amelie, isn't it? (my fav. movie)

As I recall from The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon, which is the diary of a noblewoman in the Heian period, even nuns only cut their hair to their shoulders, because beautiful hair was expected of all women, even nuns.I don't know much Japanese history, but the Heian period has always fascinated me. Nice to know I'm not alone!
Kim B.

Yes, I believe you're right. I don't recall any instances in the literature where the nuns cut above shoulder length. So even they had their limits. :)

I would definitely not like the polygamous society. I'm far too selfish, dang it! ;) The first time I read The Tale of Genji, I was so annoyed by all the affairs! Basically, the whole thing is about Genji's various flings. Hundreds of them! But now I appreciate it for the poetry, as well as the beautiful language (I'm such a linguistics nerd!), if not for appreciation of the society itself. :)

LOL ladies, sorry!! I forgot to mention that the split peach is the hair style made to REMIND men of the OTHER a-hem :oops:

I love this thread too! I have to go back and read some more about all the books mentioned here!

Oh, Anne! It took me a minute to figure out what the "split peach" was... when you said they used wax on it, somehow I was thinking of something akin to a Brazilian bikini wax! LOL! :oops:

Shame on you PrincessB - although I must admit :D ...g

I took quite a bit of Japanese art history - their pornography is exquisite :shock: ...g

Oh, I have a good story about that:

My friend Kim (who is a really sweet, really innocent kind of girl -- she's engaged to a minister) got me a folding book for christmas in a pretty box. The first side of the book was all about geisha, and apparently it's the only side she looked at before she bought it. Well the back side is all Japanese porn from the 18th century or so with dirty poetry -- oh my, she was SOOOOO embarassed after I opened it and we looked at the back side of it! hahaha I threatened her that I was going to tell everyone she got me Japanese porn for Christmas!! She was MORTIFIED! but i thought it was really nifty...http://users.telenet.be/eforum/emoticons4u/evil/105.gif

LOL ladies, sorry!! I forgot to mention that the split peach is the hair style made to REMIND men of the OTHER a-hem :oops:

yup, that's exactly why it took me a moment to figure out what the split peach was supposed to be. :DD

bunniee

Here are some links to pictures showing the "split peach" hairstyle (I know some people must be curious! :D ):


http://www.tallulahphotography.com/geisha/pages/aqmomoware_jpg.htm

http://www.risingsunimports.com/detail.php?itemid=2245

http://www.furukawa-s.com/zakkan/atu-momoware-1.jpg

Great pics DBF - I tell ya though - once the mind turns in that direction it all over :shock: :oops: :DD...g

I can't believe I spelled 'their' as 'they're' AND I did it twice! :oops:

I know better than that! :oops: [/quote]

I can't believe I spelled 'their' as 'they're' AND I did it twice! :oops:

I know better than that! :oops: [/quote]

Oh Anne - I do those all the time where were we're, you your you're, and so on. :shock: Who has time to proof read :?:

To keep it semi Japanese - anyone read the Ray Shimura books - very entertaining and the author know her Japanese contemporary culture...

Also, for anyone who knows - their is a Japanese Illustrated book around the Edo period that features animals that would put the best of Disney to shame - do you remember the name? ...g