Vintage sculpture "Geisha with musical instruments". Porcelain, underglaze painting. China, 20th century

The whole world is aware that geisha are a kind of elite among courtesans, but not everyone knows that they appeared in China 23 centuries before their official status in Japan. Unlike representatives of the ancient profession, who offered only the body, the courtesans of China (yueji), musical courtesans, brought beauty, music and dance to men. But these girls existed in the courts of the nobility only as long as they could charm, when their faces were covered with wrinkles, their life could end in a monastery, some of them became noble ladies, sometimes empresses.

Here geishas are depicted in traditional outfits, with musical instruments in their hands, with roses, chrysanthemums and sakura flowers.