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Aoriyae was a local deity of the northern [[Ryukyu Islands]] associated with wind, rain, water, and military force. The term also came to refer to priestesses dedicated to this deity; based at [[Nakijin]] on [[Okinawa Island]], the Aoriyae priestess may have been the most powerful woman in the islands prior to the rise in stature and influence of the [[Kikoe-ogimi|Kikôe-ôgimi]] in the 16th century.

Aoriyae was a local deity of the northern [[Ryukyu Islands]] associated with wind, rain, water, and military force. The term also came to refer to priestesses dedicated to this deity. Based at [[Nakijin]] on [[Okinawa Island]], the Aoriyae priestess may have been the most powerful woman in the islands prior to the rise in stature and influence of the [[Kikoe-ogimi|Kikôe-ôgimi]] in the 16th century. Rituals she performed at [[Kanahyan utaki]] in Nakijin were seen as being paired with ones performed at [[Sonohyan utaki]] within [[Shuri castle]], and as being vital to the protection of the kingdom.

Aoriyae may have originated as a well-water deity on [[Kumejima]], or may have its origins in a deity known as [[Sashikasa]] in the [[Tokara Islands]], which according to some scholars spread southward and came to be known as Aoriyae in northern Okinawa ([[Hedo no misaki|Hedo]] and [[Nakijin]]) and Kumejima and as Sasukasa in southern Okinawa.

Aoriyae may have originated as a well-water deity on [[Kumejima]], or may have its origins in a deity known as Sashikasa in the [[Tokara Islands]], which according to some scholars spread southward and came to be known as Aoriyae in northern Okinawa ([[Hedo no misaki|Hedo]] and [[Nakijin]]), as Sasukasa-Aoriyae on Kumejima, and as Sasukasa in southern Okinawa.

Aoriyae later came to be associated with the war god [[Hachiman]], and is described in the ''[[Omoro soshi|Omoro sôshi]]'' as an "island-smashing priestess," the word ''shima'' ("island") in [[Okinawan language|Okinawan]] referring not only to physical islands but also to any well-defined settlement or community. Aoriyae is often described in the ''Omoro'' as acting within, or otherwise being associated with, a sacred space called ''shike''. Some have suggested a connection between this ''shike'' and sacred spaces on [[Tsushima]] and elsewhere known as ''shigechi''.

Aoriyae later came to be associated with the war god [[Hachiman]], and is described in the ''[[Omoro soshi|Omoro sôshi]]'' as an "island-smashing priestess," the word ''shima'' ("island") in [[Okinawan language|Okinawan]] referring not only to physical islands but also to any well-defined settlement or community. Aoriyae is often described in the ''Omoro'' as acting within, or otherwise being associated with, a sacred space called ''shike''. Some have suggested a connection between this ''shike'' and sacred spaces on [[Tsushima]] and elsewhere known as ''shigechi''.

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==References==

==References==

*Gregory Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', University of Hawaii Press (2019), 32-33, 98.

*Gregory Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', University of Hawaii Press (2019), 32-33, 96-98.

[[Category:Deities]]

[[Category:Deities]]

[[Category:Ryukyu]]

[[Category:Ryukyu]]