Jacqueline Pigeot's Study on Courtesans and Women Artists in Ancient Japan
Jacqueline Pigeot, a leading specialist in classical Japanese literature, has published a reference work on medieval courtesans and their legacy, linking them to modern geisha. The essay explores how these women were taken seriously in their time, situated at the heart of societal concerns. Pigeot illuminates a unique dynamic between morality and pleasure, where men and women co-created an erotic art form engaging all dimensions of human condition. She argues this art expresses an entire civilization, paradoxically combining Buddhist ideals of desire renunciation with archaic Shinto cults, rehabilitating aesthetic diversions like dance, song, and poetry as paths to spiritual awakening. The book also evokes famous historical figures such as Ono no Komachi and Shizuka, likening them to Western counterparts like Flora and Héloïse.
Key facts
- Jacqueline Pigeot is a specialist in classical Japanese literature.
- The essay is published by Éditions Gallimard.
- It focuses on medieval courtesans and their modern geisha heirs.
- The work is described as a reference text with philosophical and aesthetic implications.
- Pigeot discusses how courtesans were taken seriously in medieval Japan.
- The book examines the relationship between morality and pleasure in erotic art.
- It combines Buddhist and Shinto perspectives on aesthetic diversion.
- Historical figures mentioned include Ono no Komachi and Shizuka.
Entities
Artists
- Jacqueline Pigeot
- Ono no Komachi
- Shizuka
Institutions
- Éditions Gallimard
Locations
- Japan
Sources
- artpress —