Miko (巫女? lit. is a city located in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. The city was formed on February 11, 2005 from the merger of the former town "Shrine Maiden") is a Japanese term that anciently meant "female shaman, shamaness; medium; prophet" who conveyed divine oracles, and currently means "shrine maiden; virgin consecrated to a deity" who serves at Shinto shrines. is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities is the native religion of Japan and was once its State religion. A Shinto shrine is a structure whose main purpose is to house ("enshrine" a Shinto Kami, and is usually characterized by the presence of a (also called
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Background
The miko tradition dates back to the ancient eras of Japan. In ancient times, women who went into trances and conveyed prophecy or the words of the gods were called miko, not unlike the Oracle at Delphi of ancient Greece. PYTHIA is a computer simulation program for particle collisions at very high energies (see Event (particle physics) in Particle accelerators Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία
Later, miko were young female attendants at Shinto shrines. They were often the daughter(s) of the priest who presided over a given shrine. Roles of the miko included performing in ceremonial dances (miko-mai) and assisting priests in various ceremonies, especially weddings. The tradition continues and today miko can be found at many Shinto shrines. In modern times most miko are part-time employees or volunteers. Their duties include assisting with shrine functions, performing ceremonial dances, offering Omikuji (a type of fortune telling), and staffing shrine shops. Omikuji (御御籤 御神籤 or おみくじ are random fortunes written on strips of paper at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples in Japan.
It is somewhat difficult to assign a strict definition or English equivalent to the Japanese word "miko", though "shrine maiden" is most often used. Other terms that have been used as equivalents are prophet, medium, priestess, nun, witch, or sorceress. In Religion, a prophet (or prophetess) is a person who has encountered the Supernatural or the divine and serves as an intermediary Mediumship is a practice in religious beliefs such as Spiritualism, Spiritism, Espiritismo, Candomblé, Louisiana Voodoo, and A priest or priestess is a person having the authority or power to administer religious rites in particular rites of sacrifice to and propitiation of a deity or deities A Nun is a Woman who has taken special vows committing her to a religious life Witchcraft, in various historical anthropological religious and mythological contexts is the use of certain kinds of Supernatural or magical powers It should be noted that although Shinto has female priests—the term "priestess" is not used in Shinto—they are not the same as miko: miko do not have the same degree of authority as that of an actual priest, although they can serve as the senior cleric of a shrine if no priest is available. The unique exception to this is that in ancient times, the prophecy revealed by miko was considered to be handed down directly from the kami (spirits).
Theoretically, miko were required to be virgins, however, exceptions have historically been made when one is imbued with a strong character. It is probably true that when a woman who was serving as a miko married, she abandoned her duties at the shrine in order to be with her husband and new family. This rule has since been mostly removed in modern times, though most still leave the service of the shrine or training for the priesthood should they wed.
The attire of a miko (traditionally and still worn today) consists of hakama, a kimono shirt, and tabi. Hakama (袴 are a type of traditional Japanese clothing. They were originally worn only by men but today they are worn by both men and women The is the National costume of Japan. Originally the word "kimono" literally meant thing to wear ( ki wearing and mono thing but now has come are traditional Japanese Socks Ankle high and with a separation between the big toe and other toes they are worn by both men and women with Zori, geta Occasionally miko wear a thin white haori called "chihaya". The is the National costume of Japan. Originally the word "kimono" literally meant thing to wear ( ki wearing and mono thing but now has come The hakama is usually red, but other colors are not unheard of. The kimono shirt has long, wide sleeves and is always white, as white is a symbol of purity. White or red ribbons often adorn a miko's hair.
In fiction
Miko are common characters in some Japanese literature, manga, and anime. ˈmɑŋgə is the Japanese word for Comics (sometimes called komikku コミック and print Cartoons In their modern form manga date from shortly (anime in Japanese, Miko are often stock characters and are readily identified by their distinctive costume. A stock character is one which relies heavily on cultural types or names for his or her personality manner of speech and other characteristics Perhaps the most common depiction of a miko has the character sweeping the grounds of a shrine with a bamboo-shafted broom. In some romantic stories, especially bishōjo video games and visual novels, miko are usually portrayed as attractive but extremely stuffy, temperamental girls--often due to limited or negative exposure to boys. A,or girl game, gal game is a type of Japanese video game centered around interactions with attractive Anime girls A is an Interactive fiction game featuring mostly static graphics usually with Anime -style art This is in stark contrast to the friendly and demure stereotype of the Christian nun in such stories. A Nun is a Woman who has taken special vows committing her to a religious life
Despite this mundane image, manga and anime typically portray the miko as a heroine who fights evil spirits, demons, and ghosts, often with magical or supernatural powers. A hero (from Greek grc ἥρως hērōs) in Greek mythology and Folklore, was originally a Demigod, the offspring of a mortal and In such stories miko are generally depicted as being skilled in some variety of martial art, especially the use of a traditional Japanese weapon such as yumi (longbow), tanto (knife), or any of the various Japanese swords: katana, wakizashi, etc. is the Japanese term for bows and includes the Longbow, Daikyū and the Shortbow, hankyū) used in the A is a common Japanese single or occasionally double edged Knife or Dagger with a blade length between 15 and 30 cm (6-12 inches A is a type of Japanese sword ( nihontō) and often is called a "samurai sword The (meaning "side arm" is a traditional Japanese sword with a Shōtō blade between 30 and 60 cm (12 and 24 inches with an average of 50 cm (20 inches Miko are almost always attributed the ability to do magic of various sorts, especially o-fuda and various forms of divination. O-fuda (御札 is a gofu (護符 or a talisman issued by Shinto shrine Divination (from Latin divinare "to be inspired by a god" related to Divine, Diva and Deus) is the attempt of ascertaining In western role-playing games, they are sometimes treated as rough equivalents to character classes such as Clerics, "white witches", or Paladins. A role-playing game ( RPG; often roleplaying game) is a Game in which the participants assume the roles of Fictional characters. These miko are sometimes referred to as Betsushikime. In some cases, historical miko, such as Izumo no Okuni, were believed to have been betsushikime. (1572?-? was the main founder of Kabuki theater She was believed to be a Miko at the Grand Shrine of Izumo who began a new style of dance in the dry
Kuro Miko ("Black Miko", though more often translated as Dark Miko or Dark Priestess) are fictional, evil counterparts to traditional miko in Japanese fiction such as manga. They often serve renegade priests or actual demons. The kuro miko is often very versed at demonology and has a strong command of black magic, and wear a darker version of the traditional outfit (burgundy, gold, or black instead of red), sometimes with a mask. Demonology (from Greek grc δαίμων daimōn, "demon" and grc -λογία -logia) is the systematic study of Black magic or dark magic is a form of sorcery that draws on malevolent powers Such characters have appeared in InuYasha and Shrine of the Morning Mist. full title ( romanized as INUYASHA is a Manga and Anime series in the modern fantasy genre that delves heavily into the practices and beliefs of Shinto.
Examples of miko
- Yamatohime-no-mikoto, daughter of Emperor Suinin, founder of Ise Shrine
- Himiko, early 3rd-century Queen of Yamataikoku
- Empress Jingū, consort of Emperor Chūai, mother and regent of Emperor Ōjin
- Izumo no Okuni, founder of kabuki. is a Japanese deity figure that is said to have established Ise Shrine, where the Sun Goddess Amaterasu Omikami is enshrined was the eleventh Emperor of Japan to appear on the traditional list of emperors. Ise Shrine ( Ise-jingū 伊勢神宮 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to goddess Amaterasu Ōmikami, located in the city of Ise in Mie prefecture was an obscure Shaman queen of Yamataikoku in ancient Wa (Japan. was an ancient country in Wa (Japan during the late Yayoi period. also known as, (c AD 169 - 269) was a legendary empress of Chūai who also served as Regent and de facto leader from the time of her husband's death in 209 was a Japanese monarch, the 14th emperor (tennō of Japan to appear on the traditional list of emperors. or rather Ōjin ōkimi was the 15th imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession (1572?-? was the main founder of Kabuki theater She was believed to be a Miko at the Grand Shrine of Izumo who began a new style of dance in the dry is a form of traditional Japanese theatre. Kabuki theatre is known for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate Make-up worn by some of its performers
- Donni Barrish, chief miko of Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America and a well-known example of a non-Japanese miko. Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America (sometimes known as Tsubaki America Jinja) is the first Shinto shrine built in the mainland United States.
See also
References
- Blacker, Carmen. Clergy and other religious figures have generally represented a popular outlet for pop culture although this has tapered in recent years 1975. The Catalpa Bow: A Study of Shamanistic Practices in Japan. London: George Allen & Unwin.
- Kuly, Lisa. 2003. "Locating Transcendence in Japanese Minzoku Geinô: Yamabushi and Miko Kagura," Ethnologies 25. 1.
External links
- Odamachi:Miko, Shinto shrine Maidens
- Miko, Encyclopedia of Shinto entry
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