the Court of Hearts

According to Wikipedia, Geisha translated into English would be "artist" or "performing artist." The very first geisha were men during the 1600's. They were known as comedians and musicians. In 1751 the female was introduced to geisha. They are now Japanese female artists known for music, dance, and make-up. Some people are mislead to believe that they are prostitutes, which is untrue; however, once a woman becomes married, she can no longer be a geisha.

Training for geisha previously began at a young age, some girls as young as 4, though this was not common practice in reputable districts. In the 1950's this was diminished due to the child labor laws.

The traditional makeup of a geisha is a thick white mask, which is applied before the kimono (outfit) is put on. It also covers the neck, face, and chest. They also wore red lipstick and black lines around the eyes and brows. Applying the makeup took a very long time. First the geisha would apply a wax or oil substance, called bintsukeabura. They then would apply the white powdery paste with a bamboo brush. They start at the neck and work their way up the face. After the white is completely covering the face, they apply the lipstick and other accents for the eyes.