Oiran Collection

Courtesans relaxing by writing poetry in the pleasure quarters. Woodblock print by Moronobu Hishikawa (1618-1694)
FLO4630998 Courtesans relaxing by writing poetry in the pleasure quarters. Woodblock print by Moronobu Hishikawa (1618-1694) from Fuzoku Emakimono, Picture Scroll of the Water Trade, Tokyo

Three oiran courtesans in kimono following a customer in the pleasure quarters
FLO4630955 Three oiran courtesans in kimono following a customer in the pleasure quarters. Woodblock print by Moronobu Hishikawa (1618-1694) from Fuzoku Emakimono, Picture Scroll of the Water Trade

The coming of age of a kamuro (kaburo genpuku no tei). Maids help a girl kamuro as she becomes a courtesan
FLO4630754 The coming of age of a kamuro (kaburo genpuku no tei). Maids help a girl kamuro as she becomes a courtesan: sewing kimono, dressing her hair and fixing her obi

Courtesans playing shamisen to entertain a customer drinking sake in the pleasure quarters. Kamuro maids serve sake
FLO4630703 Courtesans playing shamisen to entertain a customer drinking sake in the pleasure quarters. Kamuro maids serve sake

Courtesans painting a large sumi-e (ink-wash painting). A samurai customer watches, and a kamuro maid prepares the ink
FLO4630994 Courtesans painting a large sumi-e (ink-wash painting). A samurai customer watches, and a kamuro maid prepares the ink

Oiran courtesan fixing her hair while a samurai watches in front of a water barrel in the pleasure quarters
FLO4630972 Oiran courtesan fixing her hair while a samurai watches in front of a water barrel in the pleasure quarters. Woodblock print by Masanobu Okumura (1686-1764) from Fuzoku Emakimono

Courtesans and a street entertainer with performing monkey in front of a barred shopfront in the pleasure quarters
FLO4630900 Courtesans and a street entertainer with performing monkey in front of a barred shopfront in the pleasure quarters

Samurai customer with kamuro walking past two shamisen players in the pleasure quarters
FLO4630869 Samurai customer with kamuro walking past two shamisen players in the pleasure quarters. Woodblock print by Moronobu Hishikawa (1618-1694) from Fuzoku Emakimono

Courtesans relaxing by reading books in front of a large folding screen. Woodblock print by Moronobu Hishikawa
FLO4630934 Courtesans relaxing by reading books in front of a large folding screen. Woodblock print by Moronobu Hishikawa (1618-1694) from Fuzoku Emakimono, Picture Scroll of the Water Trade, Tokyo

Samurai receiving a letter from a courtesan in the pleasure quarters. Woodblock print by Masanobu Okumura (1686-1764)
FLO4630858 Samurai receiving a letter from a courtesan in the pleasure quarters. Woodblock print by Masanobu Okumura (1686-1764) from Fuzoku Emakimono, Picture Scroll of the Water Trade, Tokyo

Miasma (Sawaki no tei), with three courtesans in the pleasure quarters of Yoshiwara
FLO4630834 Miasma (Sawaki no tei), with three courtesans in the pleasure quarters of Yoshiwara. Woodblock print by Masanobu Okumura (1686-1764) from Fuzoku Emakimono

Courtesans playing shamisen and dancing in Kyomachi, Yoshiwara. They sit outside a barred teahouse in the pleasure
FLO4630830 Courtesans playing shamisen and dancing in Kyomachi, Yoshiwara. They sit outside a barred teahouse in the pleasure quarters

Japanese god Daikokuten with courtesan and kamuro (young girl maid). Woodblock print by Masanobu Okumura (1686-1764)
FLO4630765 Japanese god Daikokuten with courtesan and kamuro (young girl maid). Woodblock print by Masanobu Okumura (1686-1764) from Fuzoku Emakimono, Picture Scroll of the Water Trade, Tokyo

Oiran courtesan watching a trial of strength between her kamuro (maid) and Kinpira the famous strong man
FLO4630759 Oiran courtesan watching a trial of strength between her kamuro (maid) and Kinpira the famous strong man. A jug of sake and drinking bowl in front

Customer and courtesan with maid (kamuro) being led by a servant holding a lantern in the pleasure quarters
FLO4630943 Customer and courtesan with maid (kamuro) being led by a servant holding a lantern in the pleasure quarters. Woodblock print by Masanobu Okumura (1686-1764) from Fuzoku Emakimono

Courtesan entertaining a customer by playing the shamisen in the pleasure quarters
FLO4630888 Courtesan entertaining a customer by playing the shamisen in the pleasure quarters. Woodblock print by Masanobu Okumura (1686-1764) from Fuzoku Emakimono

Oiran courtesans and maid (kamuro) walking in the pleasure quarters. Woodblock print by Masanobu Okumura (1686-1764)
FLO4630883 Oiran courtesans and maid (kamuro) walking in the pleasure quarters. Woodblock print by Masanobu Okumura (1686-1764) from Fuzoku Emakimono, Picture Scroll of the Water Trade, Tokyo

Samurai in a sedan chair, courtesans and tradesmen walking in Yoshiwara. Woodblock print by Masanobu Okumura (1686-1764)
FLO4630813 Samurai in a sedan chair, courtesans and tradesmen walking in Yoshiwara. Woodblock print by Masanobu Okumura (1686-1764) from Fuzoku Emakimono, Picture Scroll of the Water Trade, Tokyo

Samurai walk past courtesans in barred teahouses, a courtesan entertains a customer upstairs
FLO4630772 Samurai walk past courtesans in barred teahouses, a courtesan entertains a customer upstairs, and a man with a lantern guides a couple in the street. Scene in Kyomachi Yoshiwara

Oiran courtesans dancing before a large folding screen. Woodblock print by Moronobu Hishikawa (1618-1694)
FLO4630762 Oiran courtesans dancing before a large folding screen. Woodblock print by Moronobu Hishikawa (1618-1694) from Fuzoku Emakimono, Picture Scroll of the Water Trade, Tokyo

Oiran courtesan having her hair treated with perfumed oil by a kamuro outside a barred shopfront in the pleasure
FLO4630920 Oiran courtesan having her hair treated with perfumed oil by a kamuro outside a barred shopfront in the pleasure quarters. Another maid brings a letter

Courtesan treating a woman with moxibustion, burning moxa (mugwort) on her skin
FLO4630903 Courtesan treating a woman with moxibustion, burning moxa (mugwort) on her skin. Woodblock print by Masanobu Okumura (1686-1764) from Fuzoku Emakimono, Picture Scroll of the Water Trade

Samurai and servant, courtesans and merchants in the pleasure quarters. Woodblock print by Masanobu Okumura (1686-1764)
FLO4630868 Samurai and servant, courtesans and merchants in the pleasure quarters. Woodblock print by Masanobu Okumura (1686-1764) from Fuzoku Emakimono, Picture Scroll of the Water Trade, Tokyo

Two kamuro maids try to drag two samurai to their courtesan mistresses. Scene in Yoshiwara pleasure quarters
FLO4630825 Two kamuro maids try to drag two samurai to their courtesan mistresses. Scene in Yoshiwara pleasure quarters. Woodblock print by Masanobu Okumura (1686-1764) from Fuzoku Emakimono

The artist Masanobu Okumura in glasses signing his name to a folding-screen painting while a courtesan passes a letter
FLO4630771 The artist Masanobu Okumura in glasses signing his name to a folding-screen painting while a courtesan passes a letter to a samurai

Courtesan playing a shamisen for customers Fukurokuju and Daikokuten of the Seven Lucky Gods
FLO4630723 Courtesan playing a shamisen for customers Fukurokuju and Daikokuten of the Seven Lucky Gods. A maid stands on Daikokuten's back to put a table

Courtesan and customer sharing a tobacco pipe on a teahouse verandah as a bookseller walks by in the pleasure quarters
FLO4630836 Courtesan and customer sharing a tobacco pipe on a teahouse verandah as a bookseller walks by in the pleasure quarters

An oiran courtesan playing two shojo with sake from a huge vase. Woodblock print by Masanobu Okumura (1686-1764)
FLO4630734 An oiran courtesan playing two shojo with sake from a huge vase. Woodblock print by Masanobu Okumura (1686-1764) from Fuzoku Emakimono, Picture Scroll of the Water Trade, Tokyo

Display
Hiroaki Suemasa

The Courtesan Hatsuito, 18th century. Creator: Suzuki Harunobu
The Courtesan Hatsuito, 18th century

The Courtesan Hanamurasaki of Tamaya from the series Supreme Beauties of the Present Day, 1794

Aimi of Maru Ebiya, 19th century. Creator: Kikugawa Eizan
Aimi of Maru Ebiya, 19th century. Series: Tour of the New Yoshiwara

The Courtesan Hanaogi of the Ogiya House, c1830s. Creator: Ikeda Eisen
The Courtesan Hanaogi of the Ogiya House, c1830s. Series: Seven Beauties of the Green Houses

Yosooi of the Matsubaya, from the series Selections from Six Houses in Yoshiwara... c. 1801/02
Yosooi of the Matsubaya, from the series Selections from Six Houses in Yoshiwara (Seiro rokkasen) (Matsubaya Yosooi), Japan, c. 1801/02

The Courtesan Yoso-oi of the Pine Needle House in the Yoshiwara and Her Attendant...About 1802
The Courtesan Yoso-oi of the Pine Needle House in the Yoshiwara and Her Attendant (Matsubaya Yoso-oi), Japan, About 1802

The Courtesan Yoso-oi of the Pine Needle House in the Yoshiwara and Her Attendant...About 1802
The Courtesan Yoso-oi of the Pine Needle House in the Yoshiwara and Her Attendant (Matsubaya Yoso-oi), Japan, About 1802

High-Ranked Courtesan, from the series Five Shades of Ink in the Northern Quarter... c. 1794/95
High-Ranked Courtesan, from the series Five Shades of Ink in the Northern Quarter (Hokkoku goshiki-zumi) (Oiran), Japan, c. 1794/95

High-Ranked Courtesan, from the series Five Shades of Ink in the Northern Quarter... c. 1794/95
High-Ranked Courtesan, from the series Five Shades of Ink in the Northern Quarter (Hokkoku goshiki-zumi) (Oiran), Japan, c. 1794/95

Usugumo, from the series "Framed Pictures of Women for the Katsushika Circle... c. 1822. Creator: Gakutei
Usugumo, from the series "Framed Pictures of Women for the Katsushika Circle (Katsushikaren gakumen fujin awase)", c. 1822

The Courtesan Matsukaze of Ogiya in Edo-machi Itchome (Edo-machi... Japan, c. 1765/71. Creator: Komai Yoshinobu)
The Courtesan Matsukaze of Ogiya in Edo-machi Itchome (Edo-machi Itchome, Ogiya uchi Matsukaze), Japan, c. 1765/71

Japanese oiran and samurai. Japanese courtesan in kimono with fan and hair ornaments
FLO4690715 Japanese oiran and samurai. Japanese courtesan in kimono with fan and hair ornaments, and two Japanese samurai in chonmage hairstyle wearing montsuki over hakama with two swords (katana)

Three samurai listen to a courtesan play the shamisen, as a kamuro brings food on a tray
FLO4630777 Three samurai listen to a courtesan play the shamisen, as a kamuro brings food on a tray. Woodblock print by Masanobu Okumura (1686-1764) from Fuzoku Emakimono

Shrine visit
Hiroaki Suemasa

The Oiran Hanagiku Reading a Love Letter While Standing, ca. 1769. Creator: Ippitsusai Buncho
The Oiran Hanagiku Reading a Love Letter While Standing, ca. 1769

The Oiran Chozan of Chojiya, from the series Love Letters, ca. 1769. Creator: Ippitsusai Buncho
The Oiran Chozan of Chojiya, from the series Love Letters, ca. 1769

The Actor Bando Hikosaburo II in the Role of the Oiran Hatsuito of Yamashiro-ya, ca. 1770. Creator: Ippitsusai Buncho
The Actor Bando Hikosaburo II in the Role of the Oiran Hatsuito of Yamashiro-ya, ca. 1770

Shidario
Hiroaki Suemasa

The Actors Ichimura Uzaemon VIII as Onio Shinzaemon and Onoe Kikugoro I as the courtesan U... 1744
The Actors Ichimura Uzaemon VIII as Onio Shinzaemon and Onoe Kikugoro I as the courtesan Usugumo in the play " Nanakusa Wakayagi Soga

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

"Oiran: The Enigmatic Beauty of High-Class Courtesans in Japan" Step into the captivating world of Oiran, the esteemed high-class courtesans of ancient Japan. Adorned in exquisite kimonos with intricate hair ornaments and fans, these women epitomized elegance and grace. In this woodblock print by Masanobu Okumura, we witness a mesmerizing scene as three samurai listen attentively while a talented courtesan plays the shamisen. A kamuro delicately brings food on a tray, adding to the ambiance of this enchanting moment. The artistry continues with Ippitsusai Buncho's masterpieces. "The Oiran Hanagiku Reading a Love Letter While Standing" portrays an oiran engrossed in her emotions as she reads a heartfelt message. In "The Oiran Chozan of Chojiya, " we glimpse another oiran lost in thought, perhaps contemplating her own desires and aspirations. Even actors embraced the allure of portraying oirans on stage. Bando Hikosaburo II captivates audiences as he embodies the character Hatsuito from Yamashiro-ya. Torii Kiyomasu's depiction showcases Ichimura Uzaemon VIII as Onio Shinzaemon alongside Onoe Kikugoro I as the alluring courtesan U. . Their performances transport us to an era where love and passion intertwine. From historical photographs capturing Japanese prostitutes from 1915-1920 to Torii Kiyotada's portrayal of "The Courtesan Komurasaki, " each image offers glimpses into different facets of oirans' lives - their beauty, resilience, and societal significance. Lastly, let us not forget "The Oiran Kasugano. " This stunning artwork depicts an oiran parading under blossoming cherry trees - a symbol of fleeting beauty that echoes their own transient existence.