Preview: Expedition to the Pani Islands
Pani Contract Women 101
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1) What is a Contract Woman
2) Becoming a Contract Woman
3) Behavior and Traditions
4) The Okiya
5) The Okasan
6) The Oneesan
7) Offering service and how to hire a Contract Woman
8) Acting toward a Contract Woman
9) Honorifics
10) Ancient pani words still in use
A) Suggested resources for deeper understanding
1) What is a Contract Woman
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"Certainly the contract women knew the attractions of simple collar-girls for males, but they did not regard them as rivals. When, wearied of a world's concerns, he wished to spend a leisurely, elegant evening, gratifying his various cultivated senses, physical, intellectual, and aesthetic, his choice would not be the collar-girl, but the women trained to comfort and delight him in traditional and cultural manners." - Sowrdsmen of Gor
A "contract woman" is an indentured free woman whose marque is owned by a pleasure house or single person, where she works as a highly skilled and refined entertainer who sings, plays musical instruments, dances, bathes, serves tea, arranges flowers, engages in skilled and eloquent conversation. Sex with a contract woman is not a given, and is only engaged upon with her and her contract holders consent. Contract Women are never branded nor collared nor treated in ways similar to a slave. In fact they are treated like Free with several limitations, even though they are to the whim of their contract holder.
Q: Contract Women are slaves?
A: No. The most critical misunderstanding about Contract Women is that they might be slaves. This I guess comes from the common dualism on Gor. You are either free or a slave. This might be true in most parts of Gor but it is not true when it comes to the Contract Women. They are literally owned by those who hold their contract which he/she can sell or nullify at any given time. Though a Contract Woman does not have to obey to anyone else. A slave is without say and without power while a Contract Woman has rights and responsibilities. A Contract Woman never kneels like slaves. Neither are they branded nor collared.
To utilize the general habit of using quotes of the books here is one to prove the above statement:
'I would later learn that these were, indeed, “contract women,” who, as girls, were often sold to pleasure houses, most often by their parents. Sometimes, too, they would sell themselves to such a house, to be trained in the arts of pleasure, for example, music, dancing, singing, conversation and such. As their contracts could be bought and sold they were in effect, slaves, but they were not thought of such. For example, they occupied an understood, accepted and generally respected niche in their society. They were not tunicked, not branded, not collared, and so on. They were not “collar-girls.” Indeed they regarded themselves, without arrogance, and with much justification, as far superior to collar-girls. They were in their view a different category all together.' — Swordsmen of Gor
Q: Contract Women are Free Women?
A: No. A Contract Woman is bound to the person who holds her contract and that person (and only this person) can do with her as he/she pleases. Though a Contract Woman is treaten with the same respect as Free Women. They are addressed as "Lady" or "Mistress".
Q: Why not enslave her when you own her contract?
A: There are two reasons. First it is against the traditions of the Pani. Second an enslaved Contract Woman is not able to generate income anymore as she was able to do as a Contract Woman. So it also is a business reason. Enslaving a Contract Woman would be like destroying a blooming orchid.
Q: Business? But aren't they just supposed to serve?
A: A Contract Woman is no slave (just to mention this once again). They are employed by Pleasure Houses or hired as highly skilled entertainers. They dance, sing, play instruments, run conversations, offer tea and so on. Trying to order them around shows lack of understanding of Pani culture and might even be understood as insulting depending on the degree of transgression. Owning the contract of a Contract Woman is a symbol of status. Like driving a Ferrari and owning a jet in the real world.
Q: Sounds boring. Just playing music and dancing and so on. What is the fun of playing or interacting with such a character?
A: Contract Women are the keepers of the traditions. Most may be intense and skilled roleplayers as they chose to play a character which is meant to live and breath culture and art. They can be your best friend and your advisor. They can be the figure in the shadows waiting for your call to make you laugh and entertain. Or they can be just walking and living art to show off your wealth and success like a status symbol. The choice is up to those who interact with each other.
Q: Sounds kind of pointless to me. Do they even have any value?
A: Contract women are of very high value and are often the primary aim of raiders who are aware of their skills and possible bounty. The value of a Contract Woman is not only by numbers of gold defined in the contract but also their sheer knowledge and skills as well as their ability to generate income in case the contract holder is renting her out to Pleasure Houses or festivals or people interested in their arts.
Q: So all they do is playing music and dance?
A: Contract Women perform many kind of arts. Music and dance are only two of them. Some say erotic and intercourse is art also. Contract Women always strife for perfection in the arts they perform and are trained in.
2) Becoming a Contract Woman
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Young girls are either sold by their parents to an Okiya (Contract Woman House) or pleasure houses directly or a woman may sell herself to pay her debts to avoid slavery or on her own free will because she feels that this is her path and destiny. A contract woman becomes a free again as soon as her contract is payed off completely or the owner of the contract nullifies the contract.
Prices may range between one copper tarsk to no limit when being sold by her parents or when a woman accepting a contract on her own. The price may depend on her heritage and obvious predisposition and debts. Since the training of a Contract Woman is a very long and expensive process (costumes, kimonos, trainers, instruments, food, hospitality, wigs and so on) the debt of the contract can rise very high very fast. The average Contract Woman may reach a peak of debt of about 500 gold before she is able to start working seriously and earn money. The high end is meant to be between 900 - 1000 even though there is no real limit. At some point though the owner may like to see some payback.
3) Behavior and Traditions
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Contract Women are keepers of traditions. They train not just in art but traditions and rituals of the Pani as well.
They remain calm and keep their countenance even in delicate situations. Loud laughing or even yelling is not their nature.
“The Pani are an extremely emotional, passionate race, as I would learn, and the calmness of their exterior demeanor, their frequently seeming impassibility, even seeming apathy, was less of a disposition than an achievement.” – Swordsmen of Gor. page 258
They are transported via closed wagons to avoid potential criminals getting interested in possible bounty.
Contract women usually stand behind the person who owns their contract, even if he/she is sitting. They do not speak before spoken to unless instructed otherwise, but they may respond non-verbally to conversation. They are permitted opinions and observations, even blunt ones.
Contract women are supervised closely when outside their Pleasure Houses or Okiya. They are not allowed to roam as freely as collar-girls due to their value to enemies and criminals.
They walk with small mincing steps and incline their heads when summoned by those who own their contracts or have them hired.
Contract women will wear combs in their upswept hair and jewelry, along with patterned robes.
Contract women have a different series of dances as opposed to the traditional Gorean kajirae dances.
In Pani culture Contract Women dance and bath and sing and play music and entertain guests. Not the slaves.
(i.e. they are the only ones who are allowed to run the Pani tea ceremony).
"There is NO 'Bazi Tea Ceremony' and the Pani one is only done by contract women - not by slaves."
- Swordsmen of Gor page 277
Contract Women are not allowed to become Free Companions. Free Companions can not be(come) Contract Women.
4) The Okiya (Contract Woman House)
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The Okiya is a safe haven for the Contract Women as well as training ground and possible place of their worst nightmares. No male is allowed to enter the house unless they have business with the Contract Women and even then they will not enter on their own but request entry. Slaves are not allowed in the okiya unless explicit invitation by the Okasan (matron of the house).
Contract Women are trained and punished for failure in these rooms. No punishment is public nor will it leave traces visible to the public. The Okiya is protected by the city law as well the warriors of the city. Which the house usually pays back by handing the tenth of their generated income to the city as well as offering entertainment in the Pleasure Houses and Taverns.
5) The Okasan (Honorable Mother)
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The Okasan is the "mother" of the house. She holds all contracts in the name of the house and does the business with the clients. She may or may not invite the Contract Woman to the negotiation of her hiring contract to a client. She trains the Contract Women or hires trainers if there would need be. She helps as well as guides them on their way. Also she punishes or orders someone else ot punish a Contract Woman in case of failure or insubordination or other reasons. An Okasan is or has been a Contract Woman herself.
6) The Oneesan (Honorable Older Sister)
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Often a Contract Woman in training accompanies a Contract Woman who has finished her trained or is more advanced in her training. This other Contract Woman is usually referred to as Oneesan. A person the young Contract Woman is meant to learn from and to help her to get a better insight into the life of a Contract Woman. She helps her Oneesan to dress and undress. Washes her clothes and prepares everything for her business.
There is meant to be a bond between the Contract Woman and her Oneesan. If she brings shame over herself she brings shame over her older sister also. They usually stay friends till death or one denies to be a Contract Woman anymore.
7) Offering service and how to hire a Contract Woman
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To hire a Contract Woman, a hiring contract has to be made with the owner of the contract of the woman. A Contract Woman can offer her services to a person but only the owner of her contract can sign a legit hiring contract.
8) Acting toward a Contract Woman
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A common question asked is how to act toward Contract Women.
They are treaten like Free Women. Calling them "girl" or "slave" or "mine" or similar things is frowned upon and understood as rude or even insult. They are address as "Lady" or "Mistress".
Pride and honor has an important role in Pani life and by this it has to Contract Women as well. Causing their honor blemished or even destroyed will cause trouble like dishonoring a Free Woman (pulling off their veil as one drastic example).
Contract women do not kneel. They are not expected to Nadu or Tower though they will respectfully remain in the "background" (usually slighly behind and to the side of their contract holder) unless being told otherwise.
They are neither blind nor deaf but confidence is expected from and granted by them. They are known as good listeners and if requested good advisors also.
9) Honorifics
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Chan : Expresses that the speaker finds a person endearing. Thus, using chan with a superior's name would be condescending and rude.
Dono : When attached to a name, roughly means "lord". It does not equate noble status; rather it is a term akin to "milord" or French "monseigneur," and lies in between san and sama in level of respect. Usually used when a Contract Woman talks to her contract holder.
Kun : Is used by persons of senior status in addressing or referring to those of junior status. It can also be used by females when addressing a male that they are emotionally attached to or have known for a long period of time.
Sama : Is a markedly more respectful version of san. It is used mainly to refer to people much higher in rank than oneself and sometimes toward people one greatly admires.
San : Is a title of respect typically used between equals of any age.
Sensei : Is used to refer to or address teachers, doctors, politicians, lawyers, and other authority figures.
Ue : Literally means "above", and denotes a high level of respect. Usually used when a Contract Woman talks about her contract holder.
10) Ancient pani words still in use
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Ohayou = Good morning (informal version)
Ohayou gozaimasu = Good morning (formal version)
Konnichiwa = Good afternoon
Konbanwa = Good evening
Sayonara = Good bye
Sensei = Teacher
Jogakusei = Female student
Danna = Master
joล = Mistress (literally 'Queen')
Shi = Sir
Shukujo = Lady
Korti = Kimono
Ronen = Lordless Swordmen seperated by death, imprisonment or betrayial. Very lonely and outcast. A ronin.
A) Suggested resources for deeper understanding
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Movies:
- "Memoirs of a Geisha" (self explanatory)
- "The Secret Life Of Geisha" (documentary)
- "Shogun" (Lady Toda Mariko)
Books:
- "Geisha: Beyond the Painted Smile"
- "Geisha: A Unique World of Tradition, Elegance and Art"
- "Geisha of Gion"
- "Little Songs of the Geisha: Traditional Japanese Ko-Uta"
I want to point out that there is a significant difference between Contract Women and RL Geisha just to make sure there is no confusion.
RL Geisha do NOT have intimacy with their clients while Contract Women MAY provide this service and are skilled in this art.
I suggest to watch this for further reference: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngSWyBn5Jq8
Minamoto
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