Kikoe-ōgimi (聞得大君/きこゑ大きみ, Okinawan: チフィジン, romanized: Chifi-ufujin)[1] was the highest ranking noro priestess of the Ryukyuan religion during the period of the Ryukyu Kingdom.
The position of kikoe-ōgimi was formally established during the reign of King Shō Shin (r. 1477–1526) in order to centralize the religious order. Only a royal woman could be appointed to the position of kikoe-ōgimi.
After Ryukyu's annexation by Japan in 1879, this position was formally abolished, but the last kikoe-ōgimi continued her role until her death in 1944.
List of kikoe-ōgimi
[edit]Number | Name | Warabi-naa (personal Okinawan name) | Birth | Death | Ascension | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Tsukikiyora (月清) | Otochitonomoigane (音智殿茂金) | ? | ? | During Shō Shin's reign | daughter of Shō En |
2 | Umeminami (梅南) | Makatotaru (真加戸樽) | ? | 1577 | During Shō Gen's reign | daughter of Urasoe Chōman |
3 | Umegaku (梅岳) | ? | 1605 | 1577 | concubine of Shō Gen | |
4 | Tsukimine (月嶺) | Umimuta (思武太) | 1584 | 1653 | 1605 | daughter of Shō Ei |
5 | Enshin (円心) | 1617 | 1677 | 1653 | daughter of Kin Chōtei | |
6 | Tsukishin (月心) | Umimazurugani (思真鶴金) | 1645 | 1703 | 1677 | concubine of Shō Tei |
7 | Yoshikumo (義雲) | Umidogani (思戸金) | 1664 | 1723 | 1703 | spouse of Shō Jun, also mother of Shō Eki |
8 | 坤宏 | Umimazurugani (思真鶴金) | 1680 | 1765 | 1723 | spouse of Shō Eki, also mother of Shō Kei |
9 | 仁室 | Umikamitarugani (思亀樽金) | 1705 | 1779 | 1766 | spouse of Shō Kei, also mother of Shō Boku |
10 | 寛室 | Mazurugani (真鶴金) | 1719 | 1784 | 1780 | daughter Shō Kei |
11 | 順成 | Umidogani (思戸金) | 1721 | 1789 | 1784 | daughter Shō Kei |
12 | 徳沢 | Manabitarugani (真鍋樽金) | 1762 | 1795 | 1789 | concubine of Shō Tetsu |
13 | 法雲 | Makamitaru (思亀樽) | 1765 | 1834 | 1789 | daughter of Shō Boku |
14 | 仙徳 | Makamitaru (思亀樽) | 1785 | 1869 | 1834 | spouse of Shō On |
15 | Nakaima Ōshu (仲井間翁主) | Mazurugani (真鶴金) | 1817 | ? | 1870 | daughter of Shō Kō |
16 | Asato Ōshu (安里翁主) | Moushigani (真牛金) | 1825 | 1909 | Meiji | daughter of Shō Kō |
17 | Namie Ōshu (安室翁主) | Manabitaru (真鍋樽) | 1874 | 1944 | Taishō | daughter of Shō Tai |
18 | Nakijin Nobuko (今帰仁 延子) | 1887 | 1967 | 1944 | daughter of Shō Ten | |
19 | Ii Fumiko (井伊 文子) | 1917 | 2004 | ? | daughter of Shō Shō | |
20 | Nozu Keiko (野津 圭子) | 1947 | 2019 | ? | daughter of Hiroshi Shō | |
21 | Maki Shō (尚 満喜) | 1984 | Living | 2019 | daughter of Mamoru Shō |
See also
[edit]References
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