Changes

==Religious Hierarchy==

==Religious Hierarchy==

Women were traditionally believed to be more spiritually powerful than men, and men more spiritually vulnerable. As a result, the most prominent and significant religious figures in the kingdom were priestesses. Though organized somewhat more loosely in earlier times, in the late 15th century, King [[Sho Shin|Shô Shin]] formalized the priestesses into a kingdom-wide hierarchy, linking them more closely to the royal court; though still quite powerful, the religious establishment thus represented somewhat less of a political threat.

Women were traditionally believed to be more spiritually powerful than men, and men more spiritually vulnerable, an idea or belief system known as ''onarigami''. As a result, the most prominent and significant religious figures in the kingdom were priestesses. Though organized somewhat more loosely in earlier times, in the late 15th century, King [[Sho Shin|Shô Shin]] formalized the priestesses into a kingdom-wide hierarchy, linking them more closely to the royal court; though still quite powerful, the religious establishment thus represented somewhat less of a political threat.

This new hierarchy was headed by the ''[[kikoe-ogimi|kikoe-ôgimi]]'', typically the king's sister, who was responsible for providing spiritual protection for the king and kingdom, and overseeing some of the most important royal rituals. She also oversaw the entire hierarchy of priestesses, and along with the king was in charge of appointing women to become priestesses within the hierarchy.<ref>George Kerr, ''Okinawa: the History of an Island People'', Revised ed., Tuttle Publishing (2000), 111.</ref> Directly below the ''kikoe-ôgimi'' were the ''[[Oamushirare]]'', three high priestesses who each oversaw one-third of the ''utaki'', and one-third of the ''[[noro]]'' (priestesses) of the kingdom. Beneath them, then, were the ''noro'', each of whom oversaw the ''utaki'' and spiritual affairs of a village or ''[[magiri]]'' (district); each village or ''magiri'' typically had several ''noro''. Shamanesses called ''[[yuta]]'' were significantly less powerful, but were also not strictly overseen within the hierarchy.<ref>Plaque on-site at former site of ''Kikoe-ôgimi udun'', just outside Shuri Middle School, at 2-55 Tera-chô, Shuri, Naha.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/9444382739]; Plaques at reproduction of a noro's house, Okinawa Furusato Mura, Ocean Expo Park, Nakijin.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15456827940/sizes/h/].</ref>

This new hierarchy was headed by the ''[[kikoe-ogimi|kikoe-ôgimi]]'', typically the king's sister, who was responsible for providing spiritual protection for the king and kingdom, and overseeing some of the most important royal rituals. She also oversaw the entire hierarchy of priestesses, and along with the king was in charge of appointing women to become priestesses within the hierarchy.<ref>George Kerr, ''Okinawa: the History of an Island People'', Revised ed., Tuttle Publishing (2000), 111.</ref> Directly below the ''kikoe-ôgimi'' were the ''[[Oamushirare]]'', three high priestesses who each oversaw one-third of the ''utaki'', and one-third of the ''[[noro]]'' (priestesses) of the kingdom. Beneath them, then, were the ''noro'', each of whom oversaw the ''utaki'' and spiritual affairs of a village or ''[[magiri]]'' (district); each village or ''magiri'' typically had several ''noro''. Shamanesses called ''[[yuta]]'' were significantly less powerful, but were also not strictly overseen within the hierarchy.<ref>Plaque on-site at former site of ''Kikoe-ôgimi udun'', just outside Shuri Middle School, at 2-55 Tera-chô, Shuri, Naha.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/9444382739]; Plaques at reproduction of a noro's house, Okinawa Furusato Mura, Ocean Expo Park, Nakijin.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15456827940/sizes/h/].</ref>