Saiō
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A saiō (斎王?) was an unmarried female relative of the Japanese emperor, sent to Ise to serve at Ise Shrine from the late 7th century until the 14th century. The saiō's residence, Saiku (斎宮), was approximately 10km north-west of the shrine. Saiku is situated in the town of Meiwa, Mie Prefecture, Japan.
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[edit] The Origins of the Saiō
According to Japanese legend, around 2,000 years ago the divine Yamatohime-no-mikoto, daughter of the Emperor Suinin, set out from Mt. Miwa in Nara Prefecture in search of a permanent location to worship the goddess Amaterasu-omikami. Her search lasted for 20 years and eventually brought her to Ise, Mie Prefecture, where the Ise Shrine now stands. Prior to Yamatohime-no-mikoto's journey, Amaterasu-omikami had been worshiped at the Imperial Palace in Yamato.
According to the Man'yōshū (The Anthology of Ten Thousand Leaves), the first Saiō to serve at Ise was princess Okunohime-miko, daughter of Emperor Temmu, during the Asuka period of Japanese history. Mention of the Saiō is also made in the Aoi, Sakaki and Yugao chapters of The Tale of Genji, as well as in the 69th chapter of The Tales of Ise (Ise Monogatari).
[edit] The Role of the Saiō
The role of the Saiō was to serve as High Priestess at Ise Shrine on behalf of the Emperor, to represent the role first set out by Yamatohime-no-mikoto. Three rituals a year were conducted at the Shrine in which the Saiō prayed for peace and protection. In June and November each year, she journeyed to the Shrine to perform the Tsukinamisai Festival. In September she performed the Kannamesai Festival to make offerings to the gods of the year's new grain harvest.
For the rest of the year, the Saiō lived in Saiku, a small town of up to 500 people approximately 10 kilometers north-west of Ise, in modern Meiwa, Mie Prefecture. Life at Saiku was, for the most part, peaceful. The Saiō would spend her time composing Tanka verses, collect shells on the shore of Ōyodo beach, or set out in boats and recite poetry upon the water and wait to be recalled to Kyoto.
[edit] Choosing the Saiō
When a former Emperor died or abdicated the throne, the old Saiō would be recalled to Kyoto and a new Saiō selected from one of the new Emperor's unmarried female relatives using divination by either burnt tortoise shell or deer bones. The new Saiō would then undergo a period of purification before setting out with her retinue of up to 500 people for Saiku, never to return to the capital until recalled by the next Emperor.
Upon the death or abdication of an Emperor, the current Saiō and her retinue would return to Kyoto to resume their lives as part of the Imperial Court. Often a Saiō was quite young when she left Kyoto for Saiku, and would only be in her mid-teens or early twenties when she returned to the capital. It was considered a great honour to marry a former Saiō and her time at Saiku improved her own position at court and those of the people who served with her.
[edit] The Journey to Saiku
The procession of the Saiō from Kyoto to Saiku was the largest procession of its kind in Japan for its time. Up to 500 people would set out from Kyoto as a part of the Saiō's retinue for the six day and five night journey. From Kyoto, they travelled in an eastward direction, passing through the Suzuka Pass, which was without doubt the most difficult part of the journey. Once clearing the pass, the retinue would descending into the Ise region and turn south, eventually reaching the Kushida River (櫛田川). Here, the Saiō would stop to perform a final cleansing ritual before crossing the river and travelling the short distance to Saiku.
[edit] Saiku
Saiku (斎宮), also known as "Itsukinomiya" (いつきのみや), was a town approximately 10 kilometers north-west of Ise Shrine, and was the primary residence of the Saiō during the period of the Saiō system being practiced. Sometimes referred to as the Bamboo Palace, the town was built in a grid structure based on Chinese traditions and consisted of several large blocks surrounded by high wooden walls. Inside each block were buildings of varying size and purpose, built of Japanese cypress in the method of the day, using interlocking blocks of wood to hold the structure together. The buildings were rectangular in shape, built on poles dug into the ground, with a floor raised up to a meter from the ground. Some blocks contained a small well from which to draw water, or shrines or structures for food storage.
After the end of the Saiō period, Saiku reverted back to an ordinary rice-farming village. In 1958, the town of Sanwa (that incorporated the Saiku area) and the village of Saimei merged to form the town of Meiwa. In 1970, while excavating land for new housing, pottery remains were discovered that indicated the location of the ancient Saiku and measures were taken to preserve the findings and to begin achaeological work on the site. A modern museum has been built on the location of the first finds.
The archaeological work at Saiku contines today, with the outer borders of the ancient town defined and the location of most of the major buildings, including the Saiō's residence, established. A modern reconstruction of one of the Saiku's buildings, using traditional methods, now stands adjacent to Saiku railway station and about 200 meters from the location of the ancient Saiō's residence. Elements of the Saiō's life are on display inside, as well as a 1/10 scale model of the ancient town in the building's grounds.
[edit] Saiōs from Japanese literature
[edit] Okunohime-miko
The Man'yōshū (The Anthology of Ten Thousand Leaves), tells the story of princess Okunohime-miko, the first Saiō to serve at Ise Shrine. The daughter of Emperor Temmu, Japan's 40th emperor (according to the traditional order of succession), Okunohime-miko and her younger brother, Prince Otsu, survived the Jinshin incident. After taking up her role as Saiō, her brother was put to death for treason in 686 and Okunohime-miko was relieved of her duties and returned to Yamato. Here she enshrined her brother's remains on Mt. Futakami before an end was put to her life at the age of 41.
[edit] Princess Yoshiko
The Tale of Genji tells the story of Rokujo-no-miyasudokoro, which is believed to be based on Princess Yoshiko. In The Tale of Genji, Rokujo-no-miyasudokoro became the Saiō of Ise Shrine at the young age of 8, serving at the shrine for 9 years. After returning to the capital, she became a consort to Emperor Murakami and gave birth to Princess Noriko. She became famous throughout Kyoto for her colorful life, devoting herself to waka poetry and music. According to the story, she falls in love with Prince Genji, but her jealous nature brings about the death of two of her rivals. When her daughter is chosen as Saiō at the age of 13, Rokujo-no-miyasudokoro decides to join her in Saiku to help her overcome her feelings for Genji.
[edit] Princess Yasuko
The love story of Ariwara-no-Narihira and the 31st Saiō, Princess Yasuko, is told in the 69th chapter of The Tales of Ise. Ariwara-no-Narihira, well known in his time for his good looks, is married to Princess Yasuko's cousin, but on meeting at the Saiku, they fall into forbidden love. Giving in to temptation, they secretly meet under a pine tree on the shore of Ōyodo Port to reveal their feelings for one another and to promise to meet again the following night. But this first secret meeting would also be the last, as Narihira was due to depart that next day for Owari Province. Princess Yasuko came to see Narihira off, and they were never to see each other again, though it is said that Princess Yasuko bore a child as a result of the brief love affair.
[edit] End of the Saiō system
It is not precisely clear when the Saiō system ended, but what is known is that it occurred during the turmoil of the Nambokucho Period when two rival Imperial courts were in existence, in Kyoto and Yoshino. The Saiō system had been is steady decline up to this period, with Saiku reverting to just another rural rice farming village after the system's collapse.
Though the area of Saiku remained, it was unclear exactly where the old Imperial town stood until pottery remains were unearthed in 1970 during the construction of housing in the Saiku area, Meiwa Town. A modern museum was built on the site of the first finds and achaeological excavations are continuing, held each summer with the aid of volunteer school children from all over Japan. Though a site for the main Saiō residence has been discovered, a large percentage of it lies beneath the main Kintetsu Ise railway line and is inaccessible. Istukinomiya Historical Experience Hall, a reconstruction of the building using traditional techniques, was built in the 1990's and stands beside Saiku station on the local Kintetsu rail line, no more than 200 metres for the original site.
[edit] Festivals
The Aoi Matsuri, the first of the three main festivals held in Kyoto each year, re-enacts the Heian period march of the Saiō to the Shimigamo Shrine in Sakyo Ward. This festival is held every year on May 15th and in 2006 consisted of 511 people dressed in traditional Heian court clothing and 40 cows and horses, stretching around 800 meters from start to finish. This festival is said to have started in the 6th century when the Emperor sent his representatives to Shimogamo and Kamigamo Shines to pray from good harvests.
The Saio Matsuri is held in the town of Meiwa, Mie Prefecture, on the first weekend of June each year. First held in 1983, it re-enacts the march of the Saiō from her residence at Saiku, to the nearby Ise Shrine. More than 100 people dressed in traditional Heian period costume march along a section of the old Ise Kaido (pilgrimage road), before ending in the grounds of the Saiku Museum.
