Japanese women shaman / Miko's long hair / Animism
Thursday, July 20, 2017
Miko women at Grand shrine of ISE
Miko are young women workers in Japanese shrines.(Young women only)
They have long black hair to catch nature god's divinity.
Meanwhile,Buddhist monks shave their head.
They don't need hair because they are not shaman.
Japanese language is really interesting.
There are many words that have same sounds.
髪Kami = Hair
神Kami = God/Gods
Pronunciation is different but these words have a strong similarity.
Hair is important YORISHIRO of human.
We need to take care of hair very well.
Yorishiro means a kind of adsorption/assimilation by nature gods or other spirits.
Many good or bad spirits approach our body,especially hair and beard.
To invite good nature spirit,you need to be a good person.
Please don't dye your natural beautiful hair if you can.
Scalp is connected to our genital organ.
Hair dye may cause women's diseases.
In ancient time,Miko was prime shaman of Shinto.
Grand shrine of ISE was established by shaman princess,Yamato-Hime in ancient time.
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There is true traditional style of Shinto in Okinawa.(Southernmost in Japan)
It is called Ryukyu-Shinto and the top of priest is woman.
Ryukyu-Shinto cherishes the Sun and Sun rising place(east) as much as Shinto does.
Top of Miko called NORO always carry incense burner bowl.
She was NORO.(Top priest in Ryukyu-Shinto)
In ancient Shinto,incense was vital things.
Nature and ancestor worship + Incense smoke power = True Shinto
Ainu people in northern Japan and Okinawan people in southern Japan are same.
They were orthodox Japanese.True Shinto believer.
They never wish private greed things to gods.
They just dedicate thankful heart to great nature.
Native Americans and Hebrews have almost same DNA with original Japanese.
photo by photolibrary and wikipedia