Changes

Typically a sister or other female relation to the king, the ''kikoe-ôgimi'' oversaw and managed an extensive hierarchy of priestesses and shamanesses, including the ''[[noro]]'' and ''[[yuta]]'' of the traditional [[Ryukyuan religion]]. It was believed that women had greater spiritual power, and that men, being spiritually weak and vulnerable, required women to protect them; to that end, the ''kikoe-ôgimi'', seen as a sister spirit or sister goddess (姉妹神、おなり神), performed or led various rituals for the protection and prosperity of king and kingdom, for good harvests, and safe voyages. Together with the king she appointed ''noro'' to the various regions of the kingdom,<ref>[[George Kerr]], ''Okinawa: the History of an Island People'', Revised ed., Tuttle Publishing (2000), 111.</ref> and oversaw their activities through a hierarchy of priestesses; directly beneath the ''kikoe-ôgimi'' in this hierarchy were three priestesses known as the ''[[Oamushirare]]'', who each oversaw one-third of the kingdom's ''noro'' and ''[[utaki]]'' (sacred spaces).<ref>Plaque at former site of Jiibu dunchi, the residence of one of the Oamushirare.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/9444384199/in/photostream/]</ref>

Typically a sister or other female relation to the king, the ''kikoe-ôgimi'' oversaw and managed an extensive hierarchy of priestesses and shamanesses, including the ''[[noro]]'' and ''[[yuta]]'' of the traditional [[Ryukyuan religion]]. It was believed that women had greater spiritual power, and that men, being spiritually weak and vulnerable, required women to protect them; to that end, the ''kikoe-ôgimi'', seen as a sister spirit or sister goddess (姉妹神、おなり神), performed or led various rituals for the protection and prosperity of king and kingdom, for good harvests, and safe voyages. Together with the king she appointed ''noro'' to the various regions of the kingdom,<ref>[[George Kerr]], ''Okinawa: the History of an Island People'', Revised ed., Tuttle Publishing (2000), 111.</ref> and oversaw their activities through a hierarchy of priestesses; directly beneath the ''kikoe-ôgimi'' in this hierarchy were three priestesses known as the ''[[Oamushirare]]'', who each oversaw one-third of the kingdom's ''noro'' and ''[[utaki]]'' (sacred spaces).<ref>Plaque at former site of Jiibu dunchi, the residence of one of the Oamushirare.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/9444384199/in/photostream/]</ref>

A new ''kikoe-ôgimi'' was inducted into the position through, in part, a ritual called ''Oaraori'' (御新下り, O: ''uaara uri''), performed at [[Sefa utaki]], one of the most sacred places on [[Okinawa Island]]; the ritual involved a worship of [[Kudaka Island]].

A new ''kikoe-ôgimi'' was inducted into the position through, in part, a ritual called ''Oaraori'' (御新下り, O: ''uaara uri''), performed at [[Sefa utaki]], one of the most sacred places on [[Okinawa Island]]. Some 200 attendants accompanied the high priestess to the ''utaki'', entering the sacred space around midnight, and performing succession rituals through the night, including worship of [[Kudaka Island]]. The rituals ended with the singing of sacred songs.<ref>Gallery labels, "Kikoe-ogimi and Oaraori," Okinawa Prefectural Museum.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/30407646735/in/dateposted-public/]</ref>

The ''kikoe-ôgimi'' was provided with her own mansion, in the aristocratic town of [[Shuri]] below the [[Shuri castle|castle]]. Containing both residence and shrine, the mansion, known simply as ''kikoe-ôgimi udun'', was relocated a number of times over the course of the kingdom era. Its final location, in the Tera-chô neighborhood of Shuri, covered roughly 3,000 ''[[Japanese Measurements|tsubo]]'' (9.9 km²). Following the fall of the kingdom, the shrine was relocated to the Crown Prince's residence of [[Nakagusuku udun]], and the remaining residential buildings stood for a time until they were removed to create private agricultural fields. This land was bought by the Okinawa Normal School in 1929 and used for agricultural and educational purposes until the end of World War II, after which Shuri Middle School was built on the site.

The ''kikoe-ôgimi'' was provided with her own mansion, in the aristocratic town of [[Shuri]] below the [[Shuri castle|castle]]. Containing both residence and shrine, the mansion, known simply as ''kikoe-ôgimi udun'', was relocated a number of times over the course of the kingdom era. Its final location, in the Tera-chô neighborhood of Shuri, covered roughly 3,000 ''[[Japanese Measurements|tsubo]]'' (9.9 km²). Following the fall of the kingdom, the shrine was relocated to the Crown Prince's residence of [[Nakagusuku udun]], and the remaining residential buildings stood for a time until they were removed to create private agricultural fields. This land was bought by the Okinawa Normal School in 1929 and used for agricultural and educational purposes until the end of World War II, after which Shuri Middle School was built on the site.