The Courtesans of the Tang Dynasty

The sun admires us warmly
so we cover our arms with gauze silk sleeves
but the sad and fitful spring
makes us too lazy to put on makeup
it's easier to find
rare, unparalleled treasure
than it is to have and hold
one reliable lover
at night, against our pillows,
we weep our secret tears
by day, among the flowers,
we hide our breaking hearts
if we can have
great poets for friends
should we also long
for handsome lovers?
Yu Xuan Ji (around 844 - around 871)

Originating from the Chou dynasty when the princes kept their own trained female entertainers, it was during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) that the courtesan had become a social institution. They had become an indispensable part of elegant life both in the capital and the provinces. Courtesans had their recognized place in society with a legitimate profession. In fact, they were like the moviestars of old times. Every city took pride in its courtesans and they figured largely in all public festivities. Only the low-class prostitutes or ‘amateurs’ that did not register as prostitutes and managed their own affairs were frowned upon by authorities and were subject to social disabilities.

While Europe was still in its Dark Ages, the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) was one of the most glorious periods in Chinese history. It was the greatest empire, both in political power and cultural achievements. Here young scholars set the tone and wine shops and brothels thrived as never before. Partly because it had become an established custom for every succesful scholar candidate to spend his time in a brothel quarter near the Palace grounds. It was called P’ing-K’ang-Li, or also Pei-li, the Northern Quarter. The girls here ranged from illiterate prostitutes to accomplished courtesans skilled in music, dancing and literary language.

Most girls in these quarters were recruited from poor families, others were kidnapped, but there were also girls who joined out of their own free will. Once they were inside the quarter, the girls were registered and entered in one of the walled compounds in which the quarter was divided, according to rank of inmates. Then a rigorous training started in the various skills of their profession. The girls could leave the quarters only when they were hired to entertain guests at an official banquet, or on certain fixed days for attending religious services at the Buddhist temple.

The girls were classified according to their accomplishments. Girls with just physical attraction belonged to the lowest class. They had to live together in one apartment and were strictly supervised by their management. Girls of a high class were the ones with music, dancing and literary talents. Most of them had a bedroom and salon of their own. Though they had to obey the owner of the house, they enjoyed more freedom of movement and they could pick and choose their suitors.

High-end courtesans could bring in a large, lump sum of money twice in their career. After entering the courtesan house as a virgin and developping artistic skills, the first time was when the girl was deflorated. For this honor, the guest had to pay a high fee, and had to organize a sumptuous banquet in the house to which the girl belonged. (This custom prevailed with Japanese geisha until recently. ) The second time was when she was bought out.

However, the regular income of the courtesan house was derived from the feasts held there, from the fees for the courtesans attending those feasts, and from the fees for courtesans attending parties held elsewhere. Fact is that the fees paid for sleeping with the girls were just a fraction of the brothels total income.

The house owner encouraged popular girls to only grant their favors to a few because this increased their reputation and their fame resulted in higher fees for their attendance at parties. Also, if a courtesan had become famous the chances that a wealthy patron would buy her out increased, which was an advantage to both the girl and the house owner.

In these times it had become fashionable for officials and writers to have one or more dancing girls next to his wives and concubines. While the wives and concubines stayed at home, men would take these girls with him to enliving his parties with song and dance, pour wine, and to keep the conversation going.

The ultimate aim of every courtesan was to be bought out by a man who loved her. However, those that failed were often provided for. When they grew to old to entertain men, they would stay in the house teaching music and dancing to the young girls.