The 64 arts of a geisha
The Japanese character for gei means "of the arts" and sha means "person" so the word geisha literally means "a person of the arts". In fact, geisha are performers who are skilled in many traditional Japanese arts including nihon-buyoh (Japanese dance), music (singing accompanied by the three stringed instrument, the shamisen ), sadoh (tea ceremony), ikebana (flower arrangement), shodoh (calligraphy), poetry, the art of kimono , etiquette, conversation and social graces. It takes geisha many years of training in each of these arts in order to become proficient. Geisha dress in traditional kimonos and wear geta (wooden clogs). Their hair is worn up and adorned with ornaments exposing the neckline which is considered to be one of the most beautiful parts of a woman. Geisha dress in colorful traditional kimonos, use a white foundation make-up and paint their lips bright red. The word geisha was first used to describe female entertainers of the 17th centur...