The Great Master Kikoe

She was the highest ranking female priest during the Ryukyu Dynasty. In the local dialect, her name is pronounced Chifijin. Kimi is the title for a female priest, and Kikoe is a complimentary title meaning famous. The residence where the shrine was located is called Kikoe Okimi Palace. She was at the top of the female priesthood of the Shuri Royal Court, which was made up of female priests called Noro or Tsukasa from various regions. She was on a par with the king, who was the highest authority in the administrative body, and presided over national religious ceremonies and was the highest authority in the administration of the priesthood. She also presided over the religious ceremonies that determined the king, and there seems to have been a time when her religious authority was greater than her administrative authority. Her first appearance was in the "Inscription on the Stone Monument at Tamaudun" (1501), where she was the daughter of King Sho En and sister of King Sho Shin. It is a national expression of the custom that the males of old village families are involved in administration as Nehito (Neinchu) and the females are involved in religious rites as Negami (Negan), and originally the position was held by a princess. It was the highest-ranking female official position, but in 1667 it became second only to the queen, and in 1677 it became the position of the queen. It lost its official significance in 1879 (Meiji 12) when the feudal domains were abolished and prefectures were established, but privately it continued until 1944 (Showa 19).

[Yo Kojima]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

琉球(りゅうきゅう)王朝時代の最高の女性神官。方言ではチフィジンと発音する。君は女性神官の称、キコエは有名なという意味で美称である。神殿のある居所を聞得大君御殿(うどぅん)という。各地の祝女(のろ)あるいは司(つかさ)とよばれる女性神職を底辺とした首里(しゅり)王府の女性神官組織の頂点に位置する。行政機関の最高権威者の国王と並ぶ地位で、国家的神事を主宰し、神官行政の最高権威者であった。かつては国王を決定する神事もつかさどり、宗教的権威が行政的権威を上回っていた時代もあるらしい。初見は、尚円王の女子で、尚真王の姉妹にあたる音智殿茂金(おとちとのもえかね)で、「玉陵(たまうどぅん)の碑の文(もん)」（1501）にみえる。村の旧家の男子が根人(ねひと)（ニーンチュ）として行政に、女子が根神(ねがみ)（ニーガン）として神事にかかわる習俗の国家的表現で、本来は王女が就任した。女性官職の最高位であったが、1667年に王妃の次位となり、1677年には王妃が就任する定めになった。1879年（明治12）廃藩置県で公的意義を失ったが、私的には1944年（昭和19）まで続いた。

［小島瓔］

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