Assumptions and stereotypes about geisha are rampant, but you might not know the real story behind the cultural phenomenon.

關於藝妓的假設和刻板印象比比皆是，但您可能不知道這一文化現象背後的真實故事。

The first geisha were men.

最初的藝妓是男人。

Geisha translates to arts person, and these men provided entertainment for people in the pleasure districts of Japan from around the 1600s.

藝伎的意思是藝人，大約從 1600 年代開始，這些藝人就在日本的娛樂區為人們提供娛樂。

The first woman geisha was documented in 1751.

據記載，第一位女藝妓出現於 1751 年。

Becoming a geisha takes years of training.

成為一名藝妓需要經過多年的培訓。

An apprentice geisha is known as a maiko and will train for 3 to 5 years, mastering traditional conversation.

藝妓學徒被稱為舞妓（maiko），需要接受 3 到 5 年的培訓，掌握傳統會話。

They continue to practice these arts every day for the rest of their careers.

在他們的職業生涯中，他們每天都在繼續練習這些藝術。

Geisha sometimes paint their teeth black, as hundreds of years ago this was considered beautiful.

藝伎有時會把牙齒塗成黑色，因為在幾百年前這被認為是一種美。

The practice was banned in 1870 as part of a government effort to modernise the country.

作為政府努力實現國家現代化的一部分，這種習俗於 1870 年被禁止。

But some geisha still practice teeth blackening at the ceremony where maiko become geisha.

但在舞妓成為藝妓的儀式上，有些藝妓仍然會把牙齒塗黑。

Geisha is for life.

藝伎是一輩子的事。

Geisha normally continue working as long as they can, some into their 80s and 90s.

藝伎通常會一直工作下去，有的甚至工作到耄耋之年。

Generally, a geisha cannot marry unless she chooses to leave the profession, as the roles of wife and geisha are not seen as compatible, but a geisha may have lovers and even bear children.

一般來說，藝妓不能結婚，除非她選擇離開這個職業，因為妻子和藝妓的角色被認為是不相容的，但藝妓可以有情人，甚至可以生孩子。

Geisha is a dying way of life in Japan.

藝伎在日本是一種即將消失的生活方式。

There are far fewer geisha today than before.

現在的藝妓比以前少多了。

In the 1920s, there were over 80,000 geisha in the country, but now the figure is estimated to be between 1 and 5,000.

20 世紀 20 年代，全國有 8 萬多名藝妓，但現在估計只有 1 至 5 千人。

So whilst you might be lucky enough to spot a geisha in the street or performing at a public event, being entertained by geisha is a privilege only for high-status individuals.

是以，雖然您可能有幸在街上看到藝妓，或在公共活動中看到藝妓的表演，但能得到藝妓的款待卻是高階層人士的特權。

In fact, people pay up to 2,000 US dollars per person to attend the exclusive tea houses of the geisha.

事實上，人們為了參加藝妓的高級茶會，每人要支付高達 2000 美元的費用。

Perhaps that's why the world of the geisha is one of such intrigue to the outside.

也許正因為如此，藝妓的世界才會讓外人如此好奇。