highest-ranking prostitute in Edo's Yoshiwara district (Hōreki era onward)
Archaic term specific to the Yoshiwara red-light district during the Edo period, used from the Hōreki era (1751–1764) onward. Not used in modern Japanese.
See also: 宝暦
In Edo's Yoshiwara, 'chūsan' referred to the highest-ranking courtesan from the Hōreki era onward.
Archaic term; kanji spelling is historical and not in modern use.
Alternate historical kanji spelling for the same archaic term.
The name is traditionally understood as an abbreviation of 昼三分, referring to a courtesan whose daytime fee was three 分.