A yiji (simplified Chinese: 艺妓; traditional Chinese: 藝妓) was a high-class courtesan in ancient China. Yiji were initially not involved in the direct sex trade, but was rather an entertainer performed music and arts, such as poetry, music and singing, to please dignitaries and intellectuals. They were respected and renowned for their art and education in the classics, and were hired to perform to both male and female clients, as well as employed by the state. Though yiji could in individual cases choose to sell sexual favors to a client, this was not a part of her profession as a yiji, but a parallel favor outside of their profession as a yiji and regarded as separated from it.