Saiin - Saiin

An imperial princess or queen who served Kamigamo and Shimogamo shrines (Kamo Wakeikazuchi Shrine and Kamo Mioya Shrine) in Kyoto. Her correct name is Kamo Okami Saio. Saiin is a name derived from the Saio's residence. She was also called Murasakino-in because her residence was in Murasakino, Atago County, Yamashiro Province (Kyoto Prefecture) (Kita Ward, Kyoto City). After the capital was moved to Heian, Emperor Saga appointed Princess Uchiko as Saio in 810 (Kōnin 1), following the ancient Saio system (Saiku) of Ise Grand Shrine, especially due to her reverence for Kamo Shrine. The Engishiki (Book of the Engishiki) describes a system similar to that of the Saigū of Ise Jingū, which states that after the emperor ascended to the throne, a divination was conducted to determine the location of the first Saiin from among the unmarried princesses, or if there were no princesses, from among the queens. A convenient place within the palace (such as the Gagakuryō or the Imperial Household Ministry) was selected as the first Saiin through divination, and after the first Shosaiin was entered after a purification ritual, the first Shosaiin was entered after a period of three years of ablution, when an auspicious day was chosen to perform a purification ritual by going to the river, and then the first Shosaiin was entered into the Murasakino Saiin. From there, the first Shosaiin was performed at the Kamo Festival in April. This system continued until the time of the daughter of Emperor Gotoba, Princess Reiko, and was then abolished.

In principle, the Saio retired when the Emperor abdicated or died, and a Saiin-shi was placed in the Saiin to handle the affairs, with a chief, vice chief, judge, chief clerk, Miyano-shu, historian, and miscellaneous servants. A separate betto was placed in charge of the general affairs of the Saiin, and a female betto was placed to supervise the Naishi and Nyokurodo. The Saiin-shi was instructed to always set up sakaki trees and hang shime (new-leaf clergy) to avoid uncleanness. Separately from this, the Saiin's Western Hall of the Jingikan was sometimes called Saiin, as it was where the ceremonial affairs were conducted.

[Junichi Kamata]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

京都の上賀茂(かみがも)・下鴨(しもがも)社（賀茂別雷(かもわけいかずち)神社・賀茂御祖(かもみおや)神社）に奉仕した皇女また女王のこと。正しくは賀茂大神斎王(おおかみのいつきのみこ)という。斎院とは斎王の居所からきた名。山城(やましろ)国（京都府）愛宕(おたぎ)郡紫野（京都市北区）にその居所のあったことから紫野院とも称した。平安遷都のあと、ことに賀茂社を崇敬したことより、古くよりの伊勢(いせ)の神宮の斎王制（斎宮(さいくう)）に倣い、嵯峨(さが)天皇が810年（弘仁1）有智子(うちこ)内親王を斎王としたことに始まる。『延喜式(えんぎしき)』に伊勢神宮斎宮の制に準じての制を記しているが、それによると、天皇即位ののち未婚の内親王のうちより卜定(ぼくじょう)、もし内親王のいない場合は、女王のうちより卜定し、宮城内の便宜のところ（雅楽寮や宮内省など）を、卜(うらな)いにより初斎院(しょさいいん)と定めて、禊祓(みそぎはらえ)をすませたのちに、そこに入らしめ、3年間の潔斎生活ののちさらに吉日を選んで河水に臨んで禊祓をしたあと、紫野の斎院に入らせた。それより4月の賀茂祭に奉仕した。この制は、後鳥羽(ごとば)天皇の皇女礼子内親王まで続き、以後廃絶した。

　斎王の退下は天皇の譲位、崩御の場合が原則、その斎院に事務処理のため斎院司(し)が置かれ、長官、次官、判官、主典、宮主、史生、雑使などがおり、別に別当を置いて院務全般にあたらせ、またさらに女別当(おんなべっとう)を置いて内侍(ないし)、女蔵人(にょくろうど)らを監督させた。斎院司には、つねに榊(さかき)を立て、注連(しめ)を張り、不浄を避けさせた。なお、これとはまったく別に、神祇官(じんぎかん)の西院(さいいん)のことを、そこで祭務をつかさどったことから、斎院の名でよぶことがあった。

［鎌田純一］

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