ABSTRACT
Accordingto the "Kyokutei-Zakki" (llll~$ft~C.), written by the well-known novelist Eakin, the tayu were all represented by the mark X in the sa1~ken* (guide-books) during the Kyoho era (1716-1735) * * * * At that time the price was 60 momme tlO Yen). A class of courtesans called kyo no tayu came into existence at the time, but dropped out of fashion without receiving much attention from the public. The various classes of women were represented by the following marks from the era of Kyoho (1716-1735) to the Horeki era (1751-1768) :-
~ Bunkin: ~ Chu-ya : § Ni-shu: X Uchi-komi: Y amasancha: Umecha: @ Go-sun Tsubone: • Nami-Tsubone and Ha-age-ya: • Chaya. By the 6th year of Gem bun (1741) the fees of courtesans were stated in Saiken for the first time as follows :-
X Tayu,- 80 momme (Yen 13.33) ; # Koshi, 60 momme, (10 Yen): :3 Yobidashi, 45 momme (Yen 7.50); A. Sancha (for day and night) 3 Bu (Yen 7.-50); • Bun, 1 Bu (Yen 2.50); X 12 mormne(2Yen); !§) Sk£-sun: e Nami-Tsubone; • •. six tea-houses attached to the ageya. Since then matters have undergone various changes, but the following are the present (1899) cyphers used in the Saiken-k·1: :-
