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