Saiin or Itsuki no In (斎院) were female relatives of the Japanese emperor (termed saiō) who served as High Priestesses in Kamo shrines. Saiin princesses were usually elected from royalty (内親王, naishinnō) or princess (女王, joō). In principle, Saiin remained unmarried, but there were exceptions. Some Saiin became consorts of the Emperor, called Nyōgo in Japanese. The Saiin order of priestesses existed throughout the Heian and Kamakura periods.
Saiin is also the name given to the palace where the Saiin Priestesses lived and served the Shinto deities.
In The Tale of Genji, a famous work of Japanese literature, there is a story about a man named Hikaru Genji who yearned for a Saiin Princess named Asagao, but Asagao maintained a platonic relationship with Genji.
The 11th century story Sagoromo Monogatari tells the story of an unrequited love between the protagonist and Genji no Miya, who later becomes the Kamo Saiin.
Historical Saiinedit
Princess Shikishi (式子内親王)edit
Princess Shikishi (Shikishi Naishinnō), 3rd daughter of Emperor Go-Shirikawa and Fujiwara no Seishi, was appointed High Priestess of Kamo shrine in 1159, at the age of six. She resigned her position in 1169 due to illness. After her resignation Shikishi went on to become an accomplished poet. 399 of her poems remain in existence today.
List of Saiinedit
810-831 Princess Uchiko(有智子内親王) (807-847), daughter of Emperor Saga[1]
831-833 Princess Tokiko(時子内親王) (?-847), daughter of Emperor Ninmyō
833-850 Princess Takaiko(高子内親王) (?-866), daughter of Emperor Ninmyō
850-857 Princess Akirakeiko(慧子内親王) (?-881), daughter of Emperor Montoku
857-858 Princess Jutsushi(述子内親王) (?-897), daughter of Emperor Montoku
859-876 Princess Gishi(儀子内親王) (?-879), daughter of Emperor Montoku
877-880 Princess Atsuko(敦子内親王) (?-930), daughter of Emperor Seiwa
882-887 Princess Bokushi(穆子内親王) (?-903), daughter of Emperor Kōkō
889-892 Princess Naoiko(直子女王) (?-892), daughter of Prince Korehiko
893-902 Princess Kimiko(君子内親王) (?-902), daughter of Emperor Uda
903-915 Princess Kyōshi(恭子内親王) (902-915), daughter of Emperor Daigo
915-920 Princess Nobuko(宣子内親王) (902-920), daughter of Emperor Daigo
921-930 Princess Shōshi(韶子内親王) (918-980), daughter of Emperor Daigo
931-967 Princess Enshi(婉子内親王) (904-969), daughter of Emperor Daigo
968-975 Princess Sonshi(尊子内親王) (966-985), daughter of Emperor Reizei
975-1031 Princess Senshi(選子内親王) (964-1035), daughter of Emperor Murakami
Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon. (1962). Studies in Shinto and Shrines. Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society. OCLC 399449
____________. (1963). Vicissitudes of Shinto. Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society. OCLC 36655
January 01, 1970
saiin, priestess, confused, with, saiō, saiin, itsuki, 斎院, were, female, relatives, japanese, emperor, termed, saiō, served, high, priestesses, kamo, shrines, saiin, princesses, were, usually, elected, from, royalty, 内親王, naishinnō, princess, 女王, joō, principl. Not to be confused with Saiō Saiin or Itsuki no In 斎院 were female relatives of the Japanese emperor termed saiō who served as High Priestesses in Kamo shrines Saiin princesses were usually elected from royalty 内親王 naishinnō or princess 女王 joō In principle Saiin remained unmarried but there were exceptions Some Saiin became consorts of the Emperor called Nyōgo in Japanese The Saiin order of priestesses existed throughout the Heian and Kamakura periods Saiin is also the name given to the palace where the Saiin Priestesses lived and served the Shinto deities Contents 1 Saiin in Literature 2 Historical Saiin 2 1 Princess Shikishi 式子内親王 3 List of Saiin 4 See also 5 Notes 6 ReferencesSaiin in Literature editIn The Tale of Genji a famous work of Japanese literature there is a story about a man named Hikaru Genji who yearned for a Saiin Princess named Asagao but Asagao maintained a platonic relationship with Genji The 11th century story Sagoromo Monogatari tells the story of an unrequited love between the protagonist and Genji no Miya who later becomes the Kamo Saiin Historical Saiin editPrincess Shikishi 式子内親王 edit Princess Shikishi Shikishi Naishinnō 3rd daughter of Emperor Go Shirikawa and Fujiwara no Seishi was appointed High Priestess of Kamo shrine in 1159 at the age of six She resigned her position in 1169 due to illness After her resignation Shikishi went on to become an accomplished poet 399 of her poems remain in existence today List of Saiin edit810 831 Princess Uchiko 有智子内親王 807 847 daughter of Emperor Saga 1 831 833 Princess Tokiko 時子内親王 847 daughter of Emperor Ninmyō 833 850 Princess Takaiko 高子内親王 866 daughter of Emperor Ninmyō 850 857 Princess Akirakeiko 慧子内親王 881 daughter of Emperor Montoku 857 858 Princess Jutsushi 述子内親王 897 daughter of Emperor Montoku 859 876 Princess Gishi 儀子内親王 879 daughter of Emperor Montoku 877 880 Princess Atsuko 敦子内親王 930 daughter of Emperor Seiwa 882 887 Princess Bokushi 穆子内親王 903 daughter of Emperor Kōkō 889 892 Princess Naoiko 直子女王 892 daughter of Prince Korehiko 893 902 Princess Kimiko 君子内親王 902 daughter of Emperor Uda 903 915 Princess Kyōshi 恭子内親王 902 915 daughter of Emperor Daigo 915 920 Princess Nobuko 宣子内親王 902 920 daughter of Emperor Daigo 921 930 Princess Shōshi 韶子内親王 918 980 daughter of Emperor Daigo 931 967 Princess Enshi 婉子内親王 904 969 daughter of Emperor Daigo 968 975 Princess Sonshi 尊子内親王 966 985 daughter of Emperor Reizei 975 1031 Princess Senshi 選子内親王 964 1035 daughter of Emperor Murakami 1031 1036 Princess Kaoruko 馨子内親王 1029 1093 daughter of Emperor Go Ichijō 1036 1045 Princess Kenshi 娟子内親王 1032 1103 daughter of Emperor Go Suzaku 1046 1058 Princess Baishi 禖子内親王 1039 1096 daughter of Emperor Go Suzaku 1058 1069 Princess Shōshi 正子内親王 1045 1114 daughter of Emperor Go Suzaku 1069 1072 Princess Yoshiko 佳子内親王 1057 1130 daughter of Emperor Go Sanjō 1073 Princess Atsuko 篤子内親王 1060 1114 daughter of Emperor Go Sanjō 1074 1089 Princess Seishi 斉子内親王 daughter of Ko Ichijo In Prince Atsuakira 1089 1099 Princess Reishi 令子内親王 1078 1144 daughter of Emperor Shirakawa 1099 1107 Princess Shinshi 禛子内親王 1081 1156 daughter of Emperor Shirakawa 1108 1123 Princess Kanshi 官子内親王 1090 daughter of Emperor Shirakawa 1123 1126 Princess Sōshi 悰子内親王 1099 1162 daughter of Emperor Horikawa 1127 1132 Princess Muneko 統子内親王 1126 1189 daughter of Emperor Toba 2 1132 1133 Princess Yoshiko 禧子内親王 1122 1133 daughter of Emperor Toba 1133 1159 Princess Ishi 怡子女王 daughter of Prince Sukehito 1159 1169 Princess Shikishi 式子内親王 1149 1201 daughter of Emperor Go Shirakawa 1169 1171 Princess Zenshi 僐子内親王 1159 1171 daughter of Emperor Nijō 1171 Princess Shōshi 頌子内親王 1145 1208 daughter of Emperor Toba 1178 1181 Princess Noriko 範子内親王 1177 1210 daughter of Emperor Takakura 3 1204 1212 Princess Reishi 礼子内親王 1200 1272 daughter of Emperor Go Toba 4 See also editKamo shrines Ise Grand Shrine SaikuNotes edit Ponsonby Fane Richard 1962 Studies in Shintō and shrines p 206 Ponsonby Fane Studies in Shinto p 133 Ponsonby Fane Studies in Shinto p 74 Ponsonby Fane Vicititudes of Shinto p 28 References editPonsonby Fane Richard Arthur Brabazon 1962 Studies in Shinto and Shrines Kyoto Ponsonby Memorial Society OCLC 399449 1963 Vicissitudes of Shinto Kyoto Ponsonby Memorial Society OCLC 36655 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Saiin priestess amp oldid 1209733049, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,