Saiin (priestess)

Saiin or Itsuki no In (斎院) were female relatives of the Japanese emperor (termed saiō) who served as High Priestesses in Kamo Shrine. 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.

Saiin in Literature

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 Saiin

Princess Shikishi (式子内親王)

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

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
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]

Notes

^ 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

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

[1] Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. ( 1962). Studies in Shintō and shrines, p. 206.

[2] Ponsonby-Fane, Studies in Shinto, p. 133.

[3] Ponsonby-Fane, Studies in Shinto, p. 74.

[4] Ponsonby-Fane, Vicititudes of Shinto, p. 28.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]