The nightless city

Shōgi no nedan ai-jirushi. (The signs and cyphers showing the fees of courtesans.)

Reading edition

According to the “Kyokutei-Zakki” (曲享雜記) written by the well-known novelist Bakin, the tayū were all represented by the mark ⧗ in the saiken30 (guide-books) during the Kyōhō era (1716–1735). * * * * At that time the price was 60 momme (10 Yen). A class of courtesans called kyō no tayū 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 Kyōhō (1716–1735) to the Hōreki era (1751–1763):—

⧗ Tayū: ⌗ Kōshi-jōro: Ni-nin Kaburo: Yobi-dashi: Tsuki-dashi: Zashiki-mochi: Kōkin: Bunkin: ◓ Chū-ya: ㊁ Ni-shu: ╳ Uchi-komi: Yama-sancha: Umecha: ㊄ Go-sun Tsubone: ⬤ Nami-Tsubone and Ha-age-ya: ⬛ Chaya. By the 6th year of Gembun (1741) the fees of courtesans were stated in Saiken for the first time as follows:—

Two overlapping inverted V’s with horizontal line below

Inverted V containing horizontal line above unfilled oval

Filled up pointing triangle with horizontal line below

Two overlapping inverted V’s with filled dot below

Two overlapping inverted V’s with filled up pointing triangle below

⧗ Tayū, 80 momme (Yen 13.33) ⌗ Kōshi, 60 momme, (10 Yen); ヨ Yobidashi, 45 momme (Yen 7.50); ▲ Sancha (for day and night) 3 Bu (Yen 7.50); ⬤ Bun, 1 Bu (Yen 2.50); ╳ 12 momme (2 Yen); ㊃ Shi-sun: ㊀ Nami-Tsuboné; ∴ six tea-houses attached to the ageya. Since then matters have undergone various changes, but the following are the present (1890) cyphers used in the Saiken-ki:—