Identifier: cu31924023266855 (find matches)
Title: Green willow and other Japanese fairy tales
Year: 1910 (1910s)
Authors: James, Grace Goble, Warwick
Subjects: Tales, Japanese
Publisher: London : Macmillan
Contributing Library: Cornell University Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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his is the tale of Sakura-ko, Flower of theCherry, who was the beautiful dancer of Yedo.She was a geisha, born a samura?s daughter, thatsold herself into bondage after her father died, sothat her mother might have food to eat. Ah,the pity of it ! The money that bought her wascalled Namida no Kane, that is the money oftears. She dwelt in the narrow street of the geisha,where the red and white lanterns swing and theplum trees flourish by the low eves. The street ofthe geisha is full of music, for they play the samisenthere all day long. Sakura-ko played it too ; indeed she was skilfulin every lovely art. She played the samisen, thekotto, the biwa, and the small hand-drum. Shecould make songs and sing them. Her eyes werelong, her hair was black, her hands were white.Her beauty was wonderful, and wonderful herpower to please. From dawn to dusk, and fromdusk to dawn she could go smiling and hide herheart. In the cool of the day she would stand 250 THE BEAUTIFUL DANCER OF YEDO Face page 150
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xxxiv THE DANCER OF YEDO upon the gallery of her mistresss house, and museas she stood and looked down into the street of thegeisha. And the folk that passed that way saidto one another, See, yonder stands Sakura-ko,Flower of the Cherry, the beautiful dancer ofYedo, the geisha without peer. But Sakura-ko looked down and mused andsaid, Little narrow street of the geisha, pavedwith bitterness and broken hearts, your houses arefull of vain hopes and vain regrets ; youth andlove and grief dwell here. The flowers in yourgardens are watered with tears. The gentlemen of Yedo must needs have theirpleasure, so Sakura-ko served at feasts every night.They whitened her cheeks and her forehead, andgilded her lips with bent. She wore silk attires,gold and purple and grey and green and black, obiof brocade magnificently tied. Her hair waspinned with coral and jade, fastened with combs ofgold lacquer and tortoise-shell. She poured sake,she made merry with the good company. Morethan this, she danced.

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