Memoirs of a Geisha

Memoirs of a Geisha is a novel by Arthur Golden published in 1997. It is the story of a geisha working in Kyoto during World War II. It is also the name of an upcoming (as of 2005) film based on the book, and directed by Rob Marshall, and starring Zhang Ziyi.

Film adaptation

A movie adaptation of the novel, produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by Rob Marshall, is under production as of 2005, and is planned for release on December 9 2005. It will star Ken Watanabe, Zhang Ziyi, Gong Li,Michelle Yeoh,Youki Kudoh and Suzuka Ohgo. Though Watanabe is Japanese, Zhang, Gong and Yeoh are all, in fact, of Chinese descent.Suzuka Ohgo plays the younger Sayuri in the film.

Related Topics:
Steven Spielberg - Rob Marshall - As of 2005 - December 9 - 2005 - Ken Watanabe - Zhang Ziyi - Gong Li - Michelle Yeoh - Youki Kudoh - Suzuka Ohgo

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Casting controversy

This came at a time when the Sino-Japanese relations were deteriorating. While some Japanese are upset that the main geisha characters are not played by native Japanese actresses, the majority pay little attention. However in China, it initially caused a stir among the Chinese internet community. At first, many Chinese internet users were unhappy about the news. The main reason, accompanied by the rising nationalist sentiment, is because many Chinese (like many Westerners) misunderstand the concept of geisha and mistake these women as prostitutes. For in imperial China, there too were women refined in art, literature, history and social manners who yet lived in brothels. But many of them didn't make a living with their bodies. Their job was to entertain the male guests with their talents in music, chess, calligraphy, painting etc. In Chinese it's called "????? (selling talents instead of body)". Though they were highly refined and famous (involved in innumerous Chinese poems, literature, legends and folklores), their status was nowhere near that of the geisha in Japan. Therefore, many Chinese, unfamiliar with the difference of this particular part of culture between the two countries, tend to automatically misunderstand the geisha in a negative way.

Related Topics:
Sino-Japanese relations - China - Nationalist - Geisha - Prostitutes - Imperial China - Calligraphy - Chinese poem - Legend - Folklore

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This is illustrated in the Chinese name for geisha. While in Japanese, "geisha" is written as "??", in Chinese it's "??". However many people unintentionally (intentionally by some nationalist extremists) write it as "??", the difference between the two highly similar characters "?" and "?" being that in modern Chinese, the former means people with a profession in arts and crafts and the latter means prostitute. However, both characters were correct in classical Chinese, for they could both be used to describe a woman whose job was to entertain male customers with music and dance, like the role Zhang Ziyi plays in House of Flying Daggers. Because of this particular piece of culture and the change in the meanings of "?", many are misled to argue that Zhang, Gong and Yeoh were free to shoot whatever Japanese films, but a prostitute role is unacceptable. It's still rare for a famous actress to play a prostitute in native Chinese films due to the relatively conservative values of Chinese society (plus the mainland government doesn't allow movies centering on a prostitute set in today's China to be produced), needless to say a role from a country that was at odds with China. Even in Hong Kong, Michelle Yeoh was surrounded by reporters asking her why she made such a choice. However, as time went by, the controversy gradually went down, and the majority of Chinese were not affected. In fact, many people, including the media, are expecting to see how these three Chinese women play a film adapted from a classic novel set in traditional Japan.

Related Topics:
Japanese - Chinese - Classical Chinese - House of Flying Daggers

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In a recent visit to Tokyo to promote the film, Zhang Zi Yi received a mysterious parcel with a letter from a Japanese journalist. She found out that the letter was written by a sweet old lady who once worked as a geisha. The letter stated that she was touched by the trailer of the film and she expected the movie to bring some good old memories for her and her friends. When Zhang Zi Yi open the parcel, she found that the admirer had given her a few kimono, which were truly exquisite and elegant. Zhang Zi

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Yi was so touched that she shed a few tears and she sent an invitation letter to the sweet old lady to come to the movie premiere. She even promised to wear one of the beautiful kimono to show her appreciation (The Star Online).

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