[Biographies of Famous Women of All Ages] Manji Takao
Manji Takao, a famous courtesan of the second generation at the house of Miura Shirozaemon in the former Yoshiwara, was born in Shiogama Village, Shiobara-go, Shimotsuke Province, and her father was named Chosuke.
Takao died in Edo on the 25th day of the 12th month of the third year of Manji (1660), a Kanoi-Ne year. Although she sent many keepsakes to her hometown, they have all been lost, and now not even a speck of dust remains; only things like her own handwritten copies of the Tale of Genji and the Ise Monogatari remain.
Unknown - 1660 (3rd year of Manji)
These were sent while she was alive, and there is no doubt they are her true handwriting. It is said that one feels as if they are seeing her image now. This is Kyoden's Kiseki-ko (Study of Miracles).
Her grave is at Saiho-ji Temple (Dotei) south of Sanya Bridge.
Her death poem:
In the cold wind, how fragilely the autumn leaves fall.
* "Kiseki-ko" refers to the book "Kinsei Kiseki-ko" by Santo Kyoden.
* "Dotei" is another name for Saiho-ji Temple (Jodo sect, Kogan-zan Sensho-in Saiho-ji).
* Regarding this death poem, there is a theory that it belongs to the first generation Takao, not the second generation Manji Takao.
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Manji Takao was a woman who lived in the early Edo period and was a tayu (high-ranking courtesan) employed by Miura-ya Shirozaemon in the former Yoshiwara. "Takao" is the professional name for the tayu of Miura-ya, and it is said that it continued for nine or even eleven generations. Among them, the most famous was Manji Takao.
Illustration of Takao
The book "Hachisu-bana," published in the Meiji era, contains records of nine Takaos. It seems that there were actually two more Takaos after Sakakibara Takao, but there are no records of what kind of women they were.
Manji Takao is also called Sendai Takao (listed as "Sendai Takao" in the catalog mentioned above).
The name originates from the story that she met a tragic end because she did not comply with the wishes of Date Tsunamune, the lord of the Sendai Domain, even though she had been redeemed by him, but the truth of this is uncertain.
Please read it if you like. 👀
Sendai Takao (Manji Takao) Ishii Takao Saijo Takao Shimada Takao (Mizutani Takao) Asano Takao Tazome Takao (Konya Takao) Kochi Takao Roppon Takao Sakakibara Takao
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Let's look at the location of Miura-ya, where Manji Takao served as a tayu. In the map below (Picture Map of the Former Yoshiwara Town), you can see "Miura-ya Shiroemon" in Kyo-machi, slightly to the left of the center.
It can be seen that even after moving from the former Yoshiwara to the new Yoshiwara, Miura-ya remained in the same position within the pleasure district (near the main gate of Kyo-machi).
When picking out the names of the "three tayu and twelve koshi" one by one...
Three Tayu
Tayu |Takao Sun |Usugumo Moon |Wakamurasaki
Twelve Koshi
Nishio Kawarasaki Konishi Morokoshi
Teika Tokiwa Komurasaki Yamashina
Ukon Miyoshi Shizuka Michinoku 🍂
The colors of autumn, the pale crimson leaves on the mountain peaks
Even if they are not dyed further by the autumn rain
The Yoshiwara in Nihonbashi relocated to Nihon-zutsumi (Shin-Yoshiwara) in 1657 (the third year of the Meireki era), three years before Manji Takao passed away. A hundred years later, the Miuraya, which had reached its peak alongside successive generations of Takao Tayu, gradually declined and is said to have died out in 1756 (the sixth year of the Horeki era).
Death poem
In the cold wind, crumbling away so easily, the autumn leaves
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※ Reference: National Diet Library Digital Collections "Takao Ko: Kokon Shiryo" "Yomo-yama no Hanashi (Konya Takao)" "Yujo no Bungaku (Takao)" "Sendai Junjoki (Sendai Takao no Haka)" "Meiyo Choja Kagami: Konko Jitsuroku" "Shiobara Onsen-shi" "Natsu Wasure: Ichimei Shiobara Onsen Kisho Nasu Nanayu Kisho" "Meijo-den" "Shuko Zuihitsu: Shidai Kisho" "Sho-tetsugaku" "Date no Ooku" "Meika Ieiroku"
Author's note: I will update this as appropriate when I can decipher new characters or notice typos/misreadings. For details, please read "Self-introduction/Disclaimer." 📖