The short answer: “Oiran” is a word for “courtesan” that became fashionable in Yoshiwara, the licensed pleasure quarter of Edo, in the 1750’s. There were many ranks of courtesans, whose titles and popularity shifted constantly, but to give you a sample of the rankings, this is the list of oiran-level ranks from a Yoshiwara guidebook in 1792:
- Tayū
- Kōshi
- Yobidashi Tsukemawarashi
- Sancha
- Tsukemawarashi
- Zashikimochi
Tayū were THE courtesans, not only flawlessly beautiful but talented in the arts, conversation, and above all else, performance. The very title originated as a name for the courtesans who were headlining at particular theaters. It was originally a palace lady’s rank, but can be glossed as “leading lady” or “diva.”
Tayū and kōshi were priced out of existence in the Yoshiwara in 1761, but out of respect for the legendary titles, both remained as ranks in the guidebooks for several more decades. (When the ranking above was printed, there had been no tayū or kōshi in the Yoshiwara for over 30 years.) Other ranks of oiran became the queens of the Yoshiwara. In Kyoto and Osaka, tayū continued to rule the pleasure quarters. The last tayū house still operates in Kyoto, its handful of women performing dance and song in the styles the courtesans were known for in their heyday.
There are no more women of other ranks. Long before prostitution was banned in 1952, courtesans went out of style, losing their place to the geisha. Their traditions staggered along for a while, ossified and irrelevant, but in the end, their world faded away and was replaced by modern soaplands. The “oiran” who appear in the modern oiran dochū, or procession of courtesans, are actresses.
The very, very short answer: Oiran is a term for courtesans that became popular in Edo/Tokyo. Tayū are the top rank of courtesans in any pleasure quarter.