Shirabyōshi

Shirabyōshi (白拍子) were Japanese female entertainers in the Heian and Kamakura periods who sang songs and performed dances. They danced dressed as men. The profession of shirabyōshi became popular in the 12th century. They would perform for the nobility, and at celebrations. The word shirabyōshi can also refer to the songs they sang and the dances they performed. They are sometimes referred to as courtesans in the English language, but by nature they were performers. Some shirabyōshi did sometimes sleep with their patrons and give birth to nobles' children, but this was not their intended purpose as entertainers. The best known shirabyōshi were Shizuka Gozen, Giō, and Hotoke, who were featured in The Tale of the Heike.