Courtesans of the Three Capitals: Kyoto, Osaka, and Edo

Kyoto, Osaka, and Edo were the three major cities of Edo-period (1615-1868) Japan. Each city had a distinct culture. Kyoto, the imperial capital, remained the center of traditional court culture and of fine craft production. Nearby Osaka became a thriving commercial center with its own cultural circles of artists, poets, and performers. Edo, a new metropolis and center of the shogun's government, rapidly developed distinct customs and artistic and literary forms. This painting portrays courtesans who represent each of the three cities: from left to right, Osaka, Edo, and Kyoto. The inscription at the top of the painting laments the sad fate of the women who have left their families to work in the pleasure quarters.