Miko ( Jap. Ж) Well, Neskl. - Ministers of Shinto shrines in Japan . In modern Shinto, Miko help in conducting temple rituals and wedding ceremonies, perform ritual dances, engage in omikuji fortune-telling , and simply maintain cleanliness and order in the temples. Only single girls can serve as miko. Sometimes students work as miko, especially during matsuri (temple festivals and festivals), which sometimes stretch for several weeks.
In ancient times, Miko introduced themselves into the trans-frenzied ritual dance of the kagur (the prototype of which can be found in the myth of how to lure the sun goddess Amaterasu-no Oomiki, who was hiding in a cave), which was supposed to attract the attention of the kami (deities), who descended into the body of the shaman. In this state, Miko made predictions on behalf of the gods, cured diseases, and advised politicians. It is generally accepted that Miko were virgins, although there is no evidence for this. Most likely, the girls served in the temples only until marriage, after which they left the service and switched to household work.
With the passage of time and the coming of Shinto Taoist influences from China , the ritual dance “settled down” and became more “civilized”. Nowadays it is a strict ceremonial action performed to the music of fue (flute) and koto (stringed plucked instrument). The rhythm of the dance is set by tapping the special shakubesi tablets .
The exact translation of the word miko is not easy to find. In China, hieroglyph 巫 (the first kanji in the Japanese word miko ) meant various shamans, sorceresses, sorceresses, healers. It made sense for the initial Miko classes, but now it has lost that meaning. In modern Japanese, the word miko does not carry a mystical meaning and simply means a temple servant.
The traditional Miko robe consists of a white shirt with wide sleeves (which usually reaches the heels in length), bright red hakama and tabi (high socks with a separated thumb).
Miko in contemporary works
In the literature, manga, and anime that describe medieval Japan, miko are usually portrayed as heroines protecting people from evil spirits, demons, and ghosts. In such stories, miko usually master some kind of martial art, usually using traditional Japanese weapons (usually a bow or sword), and they also use magic, most often o-food .
The stereotypes associated with Miko led to the perception in Christian mass culture of Christian nuns as some kind of Miko. Nuns in books, films, anime and manga are portrayed predominantly young and attractive; they can serve at the temple, helping the priest; they do not require an ascetic life or taking vows of celibacy.
See also
- Cannushi