Noro priestess

Noro (祝女, sometimes 神女 or 巫女^?) (Okinawan: Nuuru) are priestesses of the Ryukyuan religion. They have existed since at least the beginning of the Gusuku Period (late 12th century) and continue to perform rituals even today. They are distinct from ’’yuta’’ (psychics), but are classified as ’’kaminchu’’ ("godly people").

According to Chūzan Seikan and Chūzan Seifu, the first priestesses were the daughters of Tentei-shi, who was a descendant of the creation goddess, Amamikyu. The first daughter became the first royal priestess, kikoe-ōgimi (聞得大君), and the second daughter became the first village priestess, noro. The god of fire gave a piece of fire from Ryūgū-jō to each noro to create a village hearth, from which each family in the village would take fire to maintain their own family hearths. The kikoe-ōgimi maintained the royal hearth. The noro were charged with conducting official rituals and ceremonies for their respective village. The kikoe-ōgimi was charged with conducting rituals and ceremonies on behalf of the entire kingdom, and traveled with the king to Sefa-utaki to worship Amamikyu.

Upon taking the throne in 1469, King Shō En made his sister the Chief Noro of his home of Izena, and his daughter kikoe-ōgimi. During the reign of Shō Shin (r. 1477–1526), the priestess system was centralized under the kikoe-ōgimi's authority and a noro was assigned to every village in the kingdom. The kikoe-ōgimi also had a new residence built near Shuri Castle so she could maintain Sonohyan-utaki.

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