Historical writing should separate the institution, period, region and source type. A literary portrait of a courtesan, a tax record and a criminal code describe different realities and cannot be treated as interchangeable evidence.
Four distinctions worth keeping
- Status: free, bonded, enslaved and household-dependent people did not have the same agency.
- Setting: court, entertainment quarter, household and street commerce were separate institutions.
- Source: poems and novels offer cultural evidence, not a census.
- Period: an account from late imperial China cannot describe all dynasties.
Why the modern word can mislead
“Prostitute” can imply a direct commercial transaction and a modern occupational identity. Some historical figures sold sexual access; others were performers, companions or dependants whose relationships combined patronage, coercion and art. The label should follow the evidence, not the headline.
Editorial standard for future additions
This page will add dated claims only when they can be tied to a named academic or institutional source. Romanticized image galleries and unsourced lists are excluded. The purpose of preserving this old URL is historical context, not present-day advertising.