One of the most mysterious and intriguing Japanese cultures is Geisha. Japanese Geishas are not just young women; they've been trained and taught since young to become a Geisha, so they're also good at playing chess, writing Japanese caligraphy, and performing other traditional Japanese arts. It can be said that Geisha is a mysterious and beautiful living art.
Usually, you'd see Geisha when watching Japanese movie or when walking in Kyoto, and when you see them you'd wonder why their faces are painted white, right?
Apparently, there is a history of why Geishas painted their faces white. In ancient times, there was no electricity in Japan, and most facilities were only lit by candlelight. Since candlelight was not bright enough, Geishas painted their faces white to enhance their skin tones and to contour their faces, making their faces more visible and recognizable.
Other reason why they painted their faces white is to hide their true feelings and facial expressions. The main role of Geisha is to entertain and serve the guests, so they use the thick white make up to hide their feelings in order to keep the guests happy, entertained, and not offended.
Although electricity was not exist in ancient times, Geisha culture; including the costumes, have existed since ancient times.
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