The Courtesan Compendium (A Guide)

[Siha]

All of this was extremely informative and well written, thank you for taking the time to make it. Very well done!

[C'kayah Polaali]

All of this was extremely informative and well written, thank you for taking the time to make it. Very well done!

 

Siha read the Courtesan Compendium...

 

...and found it informative...

 

I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened.

[Siha]

All of this was extremely informative and well written, thank you for taking the time to make it. Very well done!

 

Siha read the Courtesan Compendium...

 

...and found it informative...

 

I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened.

 

I...I CAN READ THINGS. F-For educational purposes!

[C'kayah Polaali]

All of this was extremely informative and well written, thank you for taking the time to make it. Very well done!

 

Siha read the Courtesan Compendium...

 

...and found it informative...

 

I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened.

 

I...I CAN READ THINGS. F-For educational purposes!

 

How're you doing, Siha? You never call...

[PkThunda]

A bit of an after thought-

 

Should anyone be interested in movies/shows/documentaries regarding some of the Courtesan types and stories listed here, I have some links to share!

 

Tayuu/Oiran:

A movie called "Sakuran" is a fictional, stylized movie based on a Manga. Here is the trailer for it- If you do decide to watch it, I have to warn you that it is very hard to find a decent torrent to download, and expensive to buy.

 

For those curious about the famous walk, here is a good example from the movie "Yoshiwara Enjo";

 

 

Cortigiana Onesta/Di Lume:

Veronica Franco inspired a movie about her life, called "Dangerous Beauty", which is very pretty but also terribly fluffy in nature (so full of cheese and sop). They also seemed to have spent their entire budget on costume and thus the one 'fight' scene is hilariously sad.

You can find it on Netflix, but here is the link to the trailer.

 

 

Mistresses:

This is how you know I am a giant history nerd; I have a favorite historian.

Lucy Worsley has made many mini documentaries on historical happenings from how the house has evolved over time, to fashion in the Elizabethan era.

She made a very good series called "Harlots, Housewives, and Heroines", the one based on Mistresses linked here;

LINK 

 

Another good documentary for the french is the Versailles trilogy that follows the Kings Louis 14, 15, and 16.

Louise XIV

Louise XV

Louise XVI 

 

(I especially like the description of Du Berry in the Louise XV episode- I can't help but laugh every time.)

 

 

Until I see more, and of the other kinds of courtesans, I have no more to recommend.

Tell me if you enjoy these! I always like to know if someone has learned something interesting or are at least amused by the films.

[Ilwe'ran]

this topic is interesting, it should be read by a lot who misunderstand what is a courtesan (especialy mixing Geisha / Orian.. Which happens a lot) and I saw most of the movies you listed (as I'm also interested on that topic ^^ ). So people, read this ! A courtesan isn't necessary a sex worker and even less only that ._.

[BumblingSeaBiscuit]

This is a glorious reference for those new (or even not new) to playing a courtesan (or courtesan-esque) character. Thank you for providing this to the community, it's amazing.

[UltraFennec]

A question I ponder, given Eorzea's apparent acceptance for the whole spectrum of sexualities and general equality of the sexes, is whether these groups of courtesans would be applicable to men as well as women. 

 

Presumably not quite the same way and to a differing degree in some (many? most? all?) cases, given there are some differences in how people go about this between the sexes culturally and just...in general, I guess.

 

Ul'Dah in particular seems like they'd be happy with whomever doing the job, as long as it turned a profit.

[PkThunda]

A question I ponder, given Eorzea's apparent acceptance for the whole spectrum of sexualities and general equality of the sexes, is whether these groups of courtesans would be applicable to men as well as women. 

 

Presumably not quite the same way and to a differing degree in some (many? most? all?) cases, given there are some differences in how people go about this between the sexes culturally and just...in general, I guess.

 

Ul'Dah in particular seems like they'd be happy with whomever doing the job, as long as it turned a profit.

 

Most certainly!

 

There have been actual cases in real history where men have taken up the title of courtesan and/or "mistress".

It is generally a female term, but can easily be taken by men, trans, fluid, or non-binary characters!

 

Though, we ought to think up a title for cis-male characters in regards to "mistress". "Lover" is too generic, and "Mister" just doesn't hold the same weight- suggestions are most welcome!

[OttoVann]

I'll be a mistress to all the thirsty ladies of Balmung. Put me in coach.

[Telluride]

 

There have been actual cases in real history where men have taken up the title of courtesan and/or "mistress".

It is generally a female term, but can easily be taken by men, trans, fluid, or non-binary characters!

 

Though, we ought to think up a title for cis-male characters in regards to "mistress". "Lover" is too generic, and "Mister" just doesn't hold the same weight- suggestions are most welcome!

 

Considering the sorts that would think a male "courtesan" something desirable, it strikes me that such men might often be referred to as being part of some separate profession - a butler, or messenger, or musician, or masseur, or the like. There are fewer traditional roles for males in the traditional sense of being a courtesan, so it might behoove such a male to take on a more sociably acceptable role to mask what he did for his clients. A music teacher, combat instructor, professional speaker, or dance instructor would make excellent cover for a male whose primary income came from entertaining clients, and since there may be more potential humiliating social stigma in seeking a male "courtesan" than a female one ("What, a good-looking one like you can't find some big, muscled brute for a free romp? What's wrong with you?"), a man who has skills, social standing and a very advanced sense of discretion may meld these roles smoothly into anything else he might offer.

 

In other words, lacking a social structure that sees men used as frequently as women as temporary compensated company, the need for a male-specific title may not even be WANTED by the clientele, for reasons of discretion. I haven't yet seen in Eorzean lore a setting in which such a different social structure exists in force, but I'd be happy to be corrected.

 

However, it amuses me to think that Patrick Swayze's character from DIRTY DANCING was pretty much one good epiphany from being the very sort of male "courtesan" that would be in demand.

[UltraFennec]

I'm of the opinion that in a society like Eorzea's, where almost everything is egalitarian to a degree that's unheard of in our own world, that there would be far less social stigma in seeking out a male courtesan, all things being mostly equal.

[Telluride]

I'm of the opinion that in a society like Eorzea's, where almost everything is egalitarian to a degree that's unheard of in our own world, that there would be far less social stigma in seeking out a male courtesan, all things being mostly equal.

 

The equality of representation of both male and female in the Eorzean armed forces does corroborate that, and suggests that perhaps Campfire Men and Campfire women might find employ in the profession.

 

I would be different between the main city-states, of course, with their contrasting cultures, and that, I think, is where the speculation kicks in.

[UltraFennec]

Fair enough. I'd say Ul'dah seems like the most...equal, in that regard. It's Ul'dah, after all.

 

Limsa to me seems like the least likely to have a large number of male courtesans, if only because such things might not be necessary given the historical proclivities of some pirate crews...

 

Gridania...I don't even know.

[Telluride]

Fair enough. I'd say Ul'dah seems like the most...equal, in that regard. It's Ul'dah, after all.

 

Limsa to me seems like the least likely to have a large number of male courtesans, if only because such things might not be necessary given the historical proclivities of some pirate crews...

 

Gridania...I don't even know.

 

What would Merlwyb do?

 

For that matter, since Kan-E-Senna's race seems particularly childlike, the subject there could be very, very finicky to consider. Miounne would likely know the score.

 

Of course, I'm sure PKThunda might be getting tired of us speculating all over her hard worked-thread.

[PkThunda]

Are you kidding?

I LOVE open, friendly debate on the topic!

 

Though perhaps I ought to make a separate thread for such things, as well as gauge headcanons of others on the subject of paid or kept lover and entertainers.

[UltraFennec]

Perhaps, yes!

[Gaspard]

 

There have been actual cases in real history where men have taken up the title of courtesan and/or "mistress".

It is generally a female term, but can easily be taken by men, trans, fluid, or non-binary characters!

 

Though, we ought to think up a title for cis-male characters in regards to "mistress". "Lover" is too generic, and "Mister" just doesn't hold the same weight- suggestions are most welcome!

 

Considering the sorts that would think a male "courtesan" something desirable, it strikes me that such men might often be referred to as being part of some separate profession - a butler, or messenger, or musician, or masseur, or the like. There are fewer traditional roles for males in the traditional sense of being a courtesan, so it might behoove such a male to take on a more sociably acceptable role to mask what he did for his clients.   A music teacher, combat instructor, professional speaker, or dance instructor would make excellent cover for a male whose primary income came from entertaining clients, and since there may be more potential humiliating social stigma in seeking a male "courtesan" than a female one ("What, a good-looking one like you can't find some big, muscled brute for a free romp? What's wrong with you?"), a man who has skills, social standing and a very advanced sense of discretion may meld these roles smoothly into anything else he might offer.

 

In other words, lacking a social structure that sees men used as frequently as women as temporary compensated company, the need for a male-specific title may not even be WANTED by the clientele, for reasons of discretion. I haven't yet seen in Eorzean lore a setting in which such a different social structure exists in force, but I'd be happy to be corrected.

 

However, it amuses me to think that Patrick Swayze's character from DIRTY DANCING was pretty much one good epiphany from being the very sort of male "courtesan" that would be in demand.

 

Or every Yoga teacher in history of Yoga Teachers.

 

"And now do the howling dog. Ooooooh yeah."

[MikoBehnen]

 

This was lovely. Well done and *giant hugs*!

My degree is in Sex and Sexuality and I've always had this possibly odd obsession with the sex trade in ALL aspects and time periods. I've read way too many books and watched way too many movies on the subject. :love:

 

 

There WERE male courtesans but they were called cicisbeos in Italian or chevalier in french (which is where the English form "courtesan" came from, "courtisane"  ) and they were common escorts for married woman in the 18th century.

[Ilwe'ran]

There WERE male courtesans but they were called chevalier in french (which is where the English form "courtesan" came from, "courtisane"  ) and they were common escorts for married woman in the 18th century.

 

A chevalier is all but a male courtesan, he's the french knight. A mounted knight if I want to be more specific. The word "chevalier" is derivated from cheval which means horse.

I don't know where you read that chevalier = male courtesan in France, but it's totally wrong.

It is true that they were escorting. But "escorter" in France means that you accompany someone and protect that person during a journey. Not that sort of "escort" you're talking about.

Beside there is no chevalier after the Middle Ages and I'm unsure myself there were some specific type of male courtesan in France.

[Zetchryn]

...

 

All my yes goes to this thread.

[MikoBehnen]

While, yes on the cavalryman thing... That's not all they did. I've never read anywhere that they did anything sexual (sorry if that was somehow implied) but they were trained in courtly manors and would serve as social escorts at things like balls (not just travel) so women wouldn't be seen alone.

So no, not = male courtesan exactly but also no, not "totally wrong."

 

(give me a few to find them and I can cite the books  ) 

[Ilwe'ran]

While, yes on the cavalryman thing... That's not all they did. I've never read anywhere that they did anything sexual (sorry if that was somehow implied) but they were trained in courtly manors and would serve as social escorts at things like balls (not just travel) so women wouldn't be seen alone.

So no, not = male courtesan exactly but also no, not "totally wrong."

 

(give me a few to find them and I can cite the books  ) 

 

I'm terribly sorry, but I'm french, I know the story of my country and I know about chevaliers. You're totally wrong when it comes to this or it's really really reaaaaaaally bad translation of another word (I'm blaming your book there, not you).

And again, no chevalier during the 18th century. "Chevaliers" ceased to exist at the begining of the 16th century (and there were really few after the 14th Century). At the end of the Middle Ages in France.

You might confund "courtesan" with "courtois" which is a term which was applied to the chevalier.. But not directly linked to french chevaliers, but as a derivative of what rules are supposed to follow the Knights of the Round Table from "Chrétien de Troyes" but that ideal is coming from England.. And from the 12th Century.

[PkThunda]

Remember folks- Sources.

Link sources to your arguments to both back up your claims and educate!

[Amelia]

This was a really good read! Thank you for that! I hadn't ever known of courtesan history from so many nations. Very, very interesting.