Utuchitunumuigani
| Utuchitunumuigani 音智殿茂金 | |
|---|---|
"Otochitonomoikane" (おとちとのもいかね), as named in a 1501 stele [ja] from Tamaudun (third column from the right) (Prefectural Tangible Cultural Property) | |
| Kikoe-ōgimi | |
| Reign | ? - ? |
| Investiture | ? |
| Predecessor | new title |
| Successor | Minema Kikoe-ōgimi-ganashi |
| Regent | Shō Shin |
| Born | Unknown |
| Died | Unknown Shuri |
| Burial | Tamaudun |
| Warabinā | Utuchitunumuigani (音智殿茂金) |
| Divine name | Gessei / Kiyora (月清) |
| House | Shō (尚) |
| Dynasty | Second Shō dynasty |
| Father | Shō En |
| Mother | Ogiyaka |
| Religion | Ryukyuan religion |
Utuchitunumuigani (Japanese: 音智殿茂金) or Otochitonomoigane (birth and death dates unknown) is the first Kikoe-ōgimi priestess of Ryūkyū Kingdom's second Shō dynasty.
Her divine name is 月清, transcribed as "Gessei" or "Tsukikiyora" depending on the sources.[1][2]
Early life
She was the daughter of the first king of the second Shō dynasty, Shō En, and queen Ogiyaka, as well as the sister of the third king of the dynasty, Shō Shin.[3]: 615
After the death of her father, while in charge of the ceremonies for the coronation of her uncle, Shō Sen'i, Shō En's brother, she announced that the gods were opposed to the succession and would rather have Shō Shin, Shō En's son, on the throne. Shō Sen'i abdicated in favour of his nephew.[4]: 33 [5]: 828–829
Originally she was the onarigami (おなり神) (lit. "sister-goddess") of the king performing protective rites in the domestic sphere. Later she became, after the religious reform decided by her brother, the head of the hierarchic network of noro priestesses, who are in charge of the rites in the whole Ryūkyū Kingdom.[4]: 33 [6]: 182
In 1500, she told Shō Shin that his military campaign against Yaeyama would be victorious only if he brought with him the noro of Kume Island. Her brother sailed with the priestess and his military campaign was a success.[4]: 36
Few documents mention her personal life with the exception of the role she played in her brother's coronation and the military campaign against Yaeyama. It seems she had no children.
She was buried in Tamaudun, the second Shō dynasty kings' mausoleum. She is mentioned on the dedicatory stele that was erected in 1501 and lists the persons authorized to be buried in the mausoleum, under the name Kikowe Ōkimi Anshi Otochitonomoikane (きこゑ大きみあんしおとちとのもいかね).[7]: 131 Her spirit used to be sheltered in the Tenkai-ji temple, since it was the bodaiji for the spirits of all single princes and princesses of the second Shō dynasty. The temple was destroyed during WWII.[3]: 615
References
- ^ 聞得大君御殿跡 | 那覇市観光資源データベース. 那覇市観光情報 (in Japanese). 2018-06-26. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
- ^ 日本人名大辞典+Plus, デジタル版. 音智殿茂金(おとちとのもいがね)とは？ 意味や使い方. コトバンク (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-03-13.
- ^ a b Okinawa ken seishi kakei daijiten 沖縄県姓氏家系大辞典 [Great Dictionary of the Genealogies of the Clans of Okinawa Prefecture]. Kadokawa's Great Dictionary of Japanese Names and Historical Figures [角川日本姓氏歴史人物大辞典] [Kadokawa nihon seishi rekishi jinbutsu daijiten]. Kadokawa. 1992.
- ^ a b c Bollinger, E. E. (1969). "The Unity of Government and Religion in the Ryūkyū Islands to 1,500 A.D.". Contemporary Religions in Japan. 10 (1–2). Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture: 1–56.
- ^ Okinawa dai hyakka jiten jō a kara ku 沖縄大百科事典 上 ア～ク [Great Encyclopedic Dictionary of Okinawa]. Vol. 1 A-Ku. Okinawa Times. 1983.
- ^ Okinawa dai hyakka jiten ka na kara n 沖縄大百科事典 下 ナ〜ン [Great Encyclopedic Dictionary of Okinawa]. Vol. 3 Na-N. Okinawa Times. 1983.
- ^ Takara K. [高良倉吉], ed. (2002). Okinawa-ken no chimei 沖縄県の地名 [The Place Names of Okinawa Prefecture]. Japan Historical Place Names Encyclopedia [日本歴史地名大系] [Nihon rekishi chimei daikei]. Heibonsha.