Japan: 'The Enlightenment of the Courtesan Jigokudayu'. The oiran 'Phantom Lady' portrayed as Jigoku or ‘Hell Courtesan’. Ukiyo-e woodblock print from the series 'New Forms of the Thirty-six Ghosts' by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892), 1890. Oiran (花魁) were the courtesans of Edo period Japan. The oiran were considered a type of yūjo (遊女) 'woman of pleasure' or prostitute. However, they were distinguished from the yūjo in that they were entertainers, and many became celebrities of their times outside the pleasure districts. Their art and fashions often set trends among the wealthy.

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Size: 3531px × 5250px
Photo credit: © Pictures From History / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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