What is the relationship between geishas and religion?

See if you can get a hold of a documentary like "Real Geisha, Real Women" for this, but basically here are the only intersections I know of between geisha culture and religion:

- If you look at where the geisha districts in Kyoto are (particularly Gion and Kamishichiken), they are very close to Shinto shrines. The teahouses where geisha work these days originally started out as places to serve tea to pilgrims visiting the shrines. Eventually they also started serving food, and the folks who stopped there wanted entertainment to go along with their food and drinks. The women who worked there serving tea also began learning to perform arts for the entertainment of the customers. This is one of the predecessors of the modern geisha profession.

- Yasaka-jinja in Gion has a large stage in front of the main part of the shrine where the geisha and maiko perform for the gods at specific times of the year. I believe there are similar performances at the shrine in Kamishichiken.

And...that's about as far as the connection goes. Being a geisha isn't a religious life, and while individual geisha may consider themselves members of a specific religious group it really doesn't have much impact on the profession as far as I can tell.

You are apparently of the opinion that geishas are prostitutes. They aren't. A geisha is an entertainer. The entertainment is kind of like fantasy role-playing but there isn't any sex involved. There is a long and arduous apprenticeship that must be performed before they are allowed to perform.

Traditionally, geishas worship at Inari shrines, but that's about all the religious connection they have.

Shintoism is about how to obtain happiness and fulfillment in this life by following the natural cycles and celebrating the harmony between nature and humanity through the Kami. Shinto does not consider this life as just preparation for whatever comes after as is the case for most other religions do. Sex is a natural process, so it is not considered dirty or something to be ashamed of like it is in the West--particularly North America where Cromwell's ghost still lingers.

The English word "religion" gets translated into a word that has the connotation of "cult" in Japanese. So in surveys they will often answer "no". How many English speakers would answer "yes" if they were asked, "Are you a member of a cult?". In addition, Japanese culture has the concept of "honne" (private thoughts) and "tatemae" (politically correct statements). In almost all cases the tatemae answer is given.

Shintoism does not relate to being a Geisha for this religion is an animalistic religion. And the only way that Buddhism relates to being a Geisha is in death, they will most likely have a buddhist funeral as most of the general population of Japan. Being a Geisha is very much unrelated to any religion as it in itself is a way of life and an art.

If you need any questions answered in English, please contact Sayuki. She is the first western Geisha living in Asakusa, Tokyo. She is from Aussie and an awesome lady.

Here is her website: http://www.sayuki.net/

First, most Buddhists of Japan do not see their belief as a religion, but as a way of life and they keep that belief to themselves unlike Christians and Muslims who must spew out their word. Buddhists are not believers of any god. Most other Japanese people are just plain atheists, so there is a lower amount of religious people like Christians, Jews and Muslims that you may find in a country like the U.S.

So basically, there are fewer "we rule the world, do what our God says" religious people in Japan who say anything about what geishas do.

None geisha is a life style like being a sumo wrestler . It is a life long comit ment . But I have to say, that being a geisha is more of a comit ment then being a sumo. It has nothing to do with religion.:)

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If you cannot find any link between two concepts .. then that is an answer in itself. There probably is not a link (assuming you have any capacity to research information).

I would think religion would disapprove of Geisha's.

.... The question is like "how does being a dancer or a guitar player relate to Christianity?" Answer: it doesn't.