Saiin (priestess)


Saiin or were female relatives of the Japanese emperor who served as High Priestesses in Kamo shrines. Saiin princesses were usually elected from royalty or princess. 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

  1. 810–831 Princess Uchiko, daughter of Emperor Saga
  2. 831–833 Princess Tokiko, daughter of Emperor Ninmyō
  3. 833–850 Princess Takaiko, daughter of Emperor Ninmyō
  4. 850–857 Princess Akirakeiko, daughter of Emperor Montoku
  5. 857–858 Princess Jutsushi, daughter of Emperor Montoku
  6. 859–876 Princess Gishi, daughter of Emperor Montoku
  7. 877–880 Princess Atsuko, daughter of Emperor Seiwa
  8. 882–887 Princess Bokushi, daughter of Emperor Kōkō
  9. 889–892 Princess Naoiko, daughter of Prince Korehiko
  10. 893–902 Princess Kimiko, daughter of Emperor Uda
  11. 903–915 Princess Kyōshi, daughter of Emperor Daigo
  12. 915–920 Princess Nobuko, daughter of Emperor Daigo
  13. 921–930 Princess Shōshi, daughter of Emperor Daigo
  14. 931–967 Princess Enshi, daughter of Emperor Daigo
  15. 968–975 Princess Sonshi, daughter of Emperor Reizei
  16. 975–1031 Princess Senshi, daughter of Emperor Murakami
  17. 1031–1036 Princess Kaoruko, daughter of Emperor Go-Ichijō
  18. 1036–1045 Princess Kenshi, daughter of Emperor Go-Suzaku
  19. 1046–1058 Princess Baishi, daughter of Emperor Go-Suzaku
  20. 1058–1069 Princess Shōshi, daughter of Emperor Go-Suzaku
  21. 1069–1072 Princess Yoshiko, daughter of Emperor Go-Sanjō
  22. 1073 Princess Atsuko, daughter of Emperor Go-Sanjō
  23. 1074–1089 Princess Seishi, daughter of Ko-Ichijo In
  24. 1089–1099 Princess Reishi, daughter of Emperor Shirakawa
  25. 1099–1107 Princess Shinshi, daughter of Emperor Shirakawa
  26. 1108–1123 Princess Kanshi, daughter of Emperor Shirakawa
  27. 1123–1126 Princess Sōshi, daughter of Emperor Horikawa
  28. 1127–1132 Princess Muneko, daughter of Emperor Toba
  29. 1132–1133 Princess Yoshiko, daughter of Emperor Toba
  30. 1133–1159 Princess Ishi, daughter of Prince Sukehito
  31. 1159–1169 Princess Shikishi, daughter of Emperor Go-Shirakawa
  32. 1169–1171 Princess Zenshi, daughter of Emperor Nijō
  33. 1171 Princess Shōshi, daughter of Emperor Toba
  34. 1178–1181 Princess Noriko, daughter of Emperor Takakura
  35. 1204–1212 Princess Reishi, daughter of Emperor Go-Toba.