Saigu

Saigu
   'Abstinence Palace'. It refers to the residence and person of the virgin priestess despatched to the Ise shrine to perform rites on behalf of the emperor. The institution of saigu lasted from at least the Heian period to the fourteenth century, after which it died out (see Ise Jingu) to be revived in the modified form of saishu after the Meiji restoration. When a new emperor succeeded to the throne (a frequent occurrence since emperors were often appointed young and 'retired' before reaching adulthood) a girl as young as five would be selected by divination. After two years seclusion and abstinence (i.e. avoidance of taboos) at the palace she would make a ritual journey to Ise and remain there in the compound called saigu, attended by priests, maids-in-waiting and servants and observing the imperial rites, with the exception of Buddhist ceremonies. Buddhist words as well as words like blood, sweat, meat, grave and cry were taboo—imi-kotoba. She emerged only three times a year to worship at the Ise shrines. On the death or retirement of the emperor or the death of her mother she returned to the ordinary life of the capital and usually married. The formal instructions for her preparation and journey are given in the Engi-shiki and other documents. The saigu represented an inviolable symbol of imperial authority which to some extent substituted for and in other ways reinforced imperial power. Her virginal 'purity' and strict enactment of court rites were reinforced by taboos not against Taoism or Onmyo-do but against Buddhism, the religion of the real world and the bustling capital.
   See also Saio.

A Popular Dictionary of Shinto. .

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Emperor Shirakawa — (白河天皇 Shirakawa tennō ) (July 7, 1053 ndash; July 24, 1129) was the 72nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. He reigned from January 18, 1073 to January 5, 1087. [Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du… …   Wikipedia

  • Emperador Shirakawa — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Emperador Shirakawa El Emperador Shirakawa (白河天皇, Shirakawa tennō …   Wikipedia Español

  • Nonomiya Shrine — Coordinates: 35°01′04″N 135°40′27″E / 35.01778°N 135.67417°E / 35.01778; 135.67417 …   Wikipedia

  • Emperor Go-Toba — Infobox Monarch name = Emperor Go Toba title =82nd Emperor of Japan caption = reign =The 20th day of 8th month of Juei 2 (1183) The 11th day of 1st month of Kenkyū 9 (1198) coronation =The 28th day of 7th month of Juei 3 (1184) predecessor… …   Wikipedia

  • Emperor Go-Sanjō — (September 3, 1034 ndash; June 15, 1073) was the 71st emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1068 through 1073. [Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du Japon, pp. 166 168;… …   Wikipedia

  • Emperor Takakura — (高倉天皇 Takakura tennō ) (September 23, 1161 ndash; January 30, 1181) was the 80th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1168 through 1180. [Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des… …   Wikipedia

  • Santuario de Ise — Para otros usos de este término, véase Ise. Vista del Santuario Principal de Naikū, la zona más sagrada del Santuario de Ise. Su acceso …   Wikipedia Español

  • Sintoísmo estatal — Grabado de Toyohara Chikanobu (1838 1912), hecho en 1878, mostrando al Emperador Meiji (sentado en el centro) y su esposa la Em …   Wikipedia Español

  • Emperor Suinin — nihongo|Emperor Suinin|垂仁天皇,| Suinin tennō was the eleventh Emperor of Japan to appear on the traditional list of emperors. [Brown, Delmer et al. (1979). Gukanshō, pp. 253 254 ; Varley, Paul. (1980). Jinnō Shōtōki, pp. 95 96; Titsingh, Isaac.… …   Wikipedia

  • Emperor Toba — (鳥羽天皇 Toba tennō ) (February 24, 1103 ndash; July 20, 1156) was the 74th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1107 through 1123. [Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”