How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
In the years since, I've been called beautiful more often than I can remember. Though, of course, geisha are always called beautiful, even those who aren't. But when Mr. Tanaka said it to me, before I'd ever heard of such a thing as a geisha, I could almost believe it was true. (1.73)
At an early age, Chiyo learns that compliments on her physical appearance feel good, so she will put her physical appearance at a priority above anything else. This is something a geisha must do in order to be successful.
Quote #2
It struck me as odd that even though no one could have called her a beauty, Mr. Tanaka's eyes were fixed on her like a rag on a hook. (2.78)
Young Chiyo makes an interesting observation that some geisha aren't pretty. They're simply pretty because of all the makeup, which shows that the allure of the geisha is in the general mystique, not necessarily in the individual attractiveness of the geisha. However, Sayuri actually is pretty, which is how she becomes a top geisha.
Quote #3
The problem, as I later learned, was that in her geisha days she'd used a kind of white makeup we call "China Clay," made with a base of lead. (4.15)
This is why Granny's face has a strange appearance. The lead-based makeup damaged it. Geisha will do anything to achieve their perfect appearance. We have a feeling that even if they knew the damage it would cause, they'd still use it to appear beautiful and mysterious.