Changes

*''Japanese'': 花扇 ''(hanaougi)''

*''Japanese'': 花扇 ''(hanaougi)''

Hanaôgi was the name of a series of prominent [[courtesan]]s of the [[Yoshiwara]]'s [[Ogi-ya|Ôgi-ya]] [[teahouse]]. Little is known about any of the individuals to be known by this ''myôseki''<ref>名跡, a prestigious name inherited in succession by courtesans of a given teahouse.</ref>. Furthermore, it is not precisely clear when the name changed hands, or which Hanaôgi (which number in the succession) held the name at a given time.

Hanaôgi was the name of a series of prominent [[courtesan]]s of the [[Yoshiwara]]'s [[Ogi-ya|Ôgi-ya]] [[teahouse]]. Little is known about any of the individuals to be known by this ''myôseki''<ref>名跡, a prestigious name inherited in succession by courtesans of a given teahouse.</ref>, nor about the precise chronology of their retirement and succession.

Hanaôgi II, who flourished in the 1770s, as well as her successor Hanaôgi III, were known for their expertise at poetry, ''[[koto]]'', [[tea ceremony]], and [[calligraphy]], among other arts. They enjoyed a very high status within the Yoshiwara, and Hanaôgi II in particular had as many as eight ''shinzô'' attendants - considerably more than most courtesans. Throughout the period, ''shinzô'' in the service to Hanaôgi took names featuring the character ''hana'', such as Hanasumi, Hanazono, Hanatsuru, and Hanakishi.<ref>Segawa Seigle. p178.</ref>

Hanaôgi II, who flourished in the 1770s, was known for her especially great talent at poetry, ''[[koto]]'', [[tea ceremony]], and [[calligraphy]], among other arts; her successor Hanaôgi III was celebrated for the same. They enjoyed a very high status within the Yoshiwara, and Hanaôgi II in particular had as many as eight ''shinzô'' attendants - considerably more than most courtesans. Throughout the period, ''shinzô'' in the service to Hanaôgi took names featuring the character ''hana'', such as Hanasumi, Hanazono, Hanatsuru, and Hanakishi.<ref>Segawa Seigle. p178.</ref>

An anecdote about Hanaôgi (probably the second Hanaôgi) highlights her wisdom and cleverness. It is said that she was visited by a deputy of [[Nanbu han]], who is said to have been too upright and righteous in the observation of his duties; his political rivals sent him to the Yoshiwara in the hopes that he would embarrass himself due to his lack of experience with the complex etiquette of the pleasure quarters. Unaware of, or consciously ignoring, how unusual it was to call directly upon such a high-ranking courtesan as Hanaôgi, he did so, and then explained to her his situation - namely, that his embarrassment would be the embarrassment of his lord and his domain - and asked her help, therefore, to avoid such embarrassment. The following day, his rivals called upon their favorite courtesans (their ''najimi'', with whom they had a regular relationship), and expected that the Nanbu deputy would either have no one to call upon, or would call upon some call-girl of low rank or low quality, not knowing any better due to his backwoods inexperience. He then called on Hanaôgi, pretending in his backwoods ignorance and innocence to not know how high-ranking she was; her appearance stunned his rivals. Afterwards, the deputy, admitting his ignorance in the appropriate way to repay her, offered Hanaôhi fifty ''[[currency|ryô]]''; she insisted that she could not accept it, as her help had been freely offered and given, not bought, but realizing that the samurai's honor prevented him from taking back what he had offered, she had the money distributed among the staff and attendants. In the end, the deputy was not permitted to sleep with Hanaôgi, but enjoyed the services of her lower-ranking sister courtesans, and is said to have remained friendly with Hanaôgi, visiting her from time to time.<ref>Segawa Seigle. pp138-140.</ref>

An anecdote about Hanaôgi (probably the second Hanaôgi) highlights her wisdom and cleverness. It is said that she was visited by a deputy of [[Nanbu han]], who is said to have been too upright and righteous in the observation of his duties; his political rivals sent him to the Yoshiwara in the hopes that he would embarrass himself due to his lack of experience with the complex etiquette of the pleasure quarters. Unaware of, or consciously ignoring, how unusual it was to call directly upon such a high-ranking courtesan as Hanaôgi, he did so, and then explained to her his situation - namely, that his embarrassment would be the embarrassment of his lord and his domain - and asked her help, therefore, to avoid such embarrassment. The following day, his rivals called upon their favorite courtesans (their ''najimi'', with whom they had a regular relationship), and expected that the Nanbu deputy would either have no one to call upon, or would call upon some call-girl of low rank or low quality, not knowing any better due to his backwoods inexperience. He then called on Hanaôgi, pretending in his backwoods ignorance and innocence to not know how high-ranking she was; her appearance stunned his rivals. Afterwards, the deputy, admitting his ignorance in the appropriate way to repay her, offered Hanaôhi fifty ''[[currency|ryô]]''; she insisted that she could not accept it, as her help had been freely offered and given, not bought, but realizing that the samurai's honor prevented him from taking back what he had offered, she had the money distributed among the staff and attendants. In the end, the deputy was not permitted to sleep with Hanaôgi, but enjoyed the services of her lower-ranking sister courtesans, and is said to have remained friendly with Hanaôgi, visiting her from time to time.<ref>Segawa Seigle. pp138-140.</ref>