shrine maidens
Sacred female servants
Shrine maidens are young women who assist with rituals and maintenance at Shinto shrines in Japan.
Called *miko* in Japanese, they traditionally wore distinctive white robes with red hakama (wide-legged trousers).
Historically they served as spirit mediums; today their duties are largely ceremonial—performing sacred dances, selling charms, and assisting priests.
The figure appears frequently in Japanese popular culture, often with supernatural abilities.
- ShintoJapanese animistic tradition
- templeSacred worship structure
- priestessFemale religious officiant
- kimonoWraparound Japanese garment
- white robesPale flowing garments
ritual · purification · sacred · holy ground · Japan · kagura · sacred dance · dance · bells · offerings · ceremonial · spirits · fox spirit · kami · blessing · good luck · charms · torii
- Ise ShrineAmaterasu, sun goddess, imperial regalia, torii, torii gate
shrine maidensmonks
Cloistered religious men
Buddhist monks · priests · abbots · bishops · imams
shrine, shrines, maiden, maidens, maidenly, maidenhood, maid, maids