- Saiin (Priestess)
were female relatives of the Japanese emperor (termed
saiō ) who served as High Priestesses inKamo Shrine . Saiō also served atIse Shrine . Saiin princesses were usually elected from royalty (内親王,Naishino ) or princess (女王,Joou ). In principle, Saiin remained unmarried, but there were exceptions. Some Saiin became consorts of the Emperor, called Nyougo 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.Saiin in Literature
In
The Tale of Genji a famous work of Japanese literature there is a story about a man namedHikaru Genji who yearned for a Saiin Princess named Asagao, but Asagao maintained a platonic relationship with Genji...Historical Saiin
Princess Shikishi(式子内親王)
Princess Shikishi (Shikishi Naishinnō) [http://www.bookrags.com/printfriendly/?p=bios&u=naishinno-shikishi-dlb] , 3rd daughter of Emperor Go-Shirikawa and Fujiwara no Seishi, was appointed High Prestess 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
# 810-831 Princess Uchiko(有智子内親王) (807-847), daughter of
Emperor Saga
# 831-833 Princess Tokiko(時子内親王) (?-847), daughter ofEmperor Nimmyo
# 833-850 Princess Takaiko(高子内親王) (?-866), daughter ofEmperor Nimmyo
# 850-857 Princess Akirakeiko(慧子内親王) (?-881), daughter ofEmperor Montoku
# 857-858 Princess "Jutsushi"(述子内親王) (?-897), daughter ofEmperor Montoku
# 859-876 Princess "Gishi"(儀子内親王) (?-879), daughter ofEmperor Montoku
# 877-880 Princess Atsuko(敦子内親王) (?-930), daughter ofEmperor Seiwa
# 882-887 Princess "Bokushi"(穆子内親王) (?-903), daughter ofEmperor 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 ofEmperor Uda
# 903-915 Princess "Kyōshi"(恭子内親王) (902-915), daughter ofEmperor Daigo
# 915-920 Princess Nobuko(宣子内親王) (902-920), daughter ofEmperor Daigo
# 921-930 Princess "Shōshi"(韶子内親王) (918-980), daughter ofEmperor Daigo
# 931-967 Princess "Enshi"(婉子内親王) (904-969), daughter ofEmperor Daigo
# 968-975 Princess "Sonshi"(尊子内親王) (966-985), daughter ofEmperor Reizei
# 975-1031 Princess "Senshi"(選子内親王) (964-1035), daughter ofEmperor Murakami
# 1031-1036 Princess Kaoruko(馨子内親王) (1029-1093), daughter ofEmperor Go-Ichijō
# 1036-1045 Princess "Kenshi"(娟子内親王) (1032-1103), daughter ofEmperor Go-Suzaku
# 1046-1058 Princess "Baishi"(禖子内親王) (1039-1096), daughter ofEmperor Go-Suzaku
# 1058-1069 Princess "Shōshi"(正子内親王) (1045-1114), daughter ofEmperor Go-Suzaku
# 1069-1072 Princess Yoshiko(佳子内親王) (1057-1130), daughter ofEmperor Go-Sanjō
# 1073 Princess Atsuko(篤子内親王) (1060-1114), daughter ofEmperor 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 ofEmperor Shirakawa
# 1099-1107 Princess "Shinshi"(禛子内親王) (1081-1156), daughter ofEmperor Shirakawa
# 1108-1123 Princess "Kanshi"(官子内親王) (1090-?), daughter ofEmperor Shirakawa
# 1123-1126 Princess "Sōshi"(悰子内親王) (1099-1162), daughter ofEmperor Horikawa
# 1127-1132 Princess Muneko(統子内親王) (1126-1189), daughter ofEmperor Toba
# 1132-1133 Princess Yoshiko(禧子内親王) (1122-1133), daughter ofEmperor 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 ofEmperor Go-Shirakawa
# 1169-1171 Princess "Zenshi"(僐子内親王) (1159-1171), daughter ofEmperor Nijō
# 1171 Princess "Shōshi"(頌子内親王) (1145-1208), daughter ofEmperor Toba
# 1178-1181 Princess Noriko(範子内親王) (1177-1210), daughter ofEmperor Takakura
# 1204-1212 Princess "Reishi"(礼子内親王) (1200-1272), daughter ofEmperor Go-Toba See also
*
Saiō
**Kamo Shrine
**Ise Shrine
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
