Originally Posted by
akolaw
In Ancient China, high class pleasure house is actually a place for social gathering,(upper class circle do not bring their wife or girls out in gathering, except relative or very close friends) ladies there act as hostess to service, and were actually public relation for the benquet. they were trained from very young age as performer/entertainer in music, dance, singing etc. so they were artist, and famous one were treated as stars. (see the root of the geisha tradition)
They were treated as artist, and clients have to pursuit them like a girl friend , not unlike today's rich boy pursuit starlet.