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"Women are the ones who mainly
conduct and oversee religious affairs of the community. Although
there are men involved in rites, they are assistants rather
than priests."
 In
the Okinawan dialect, the term "Shiji"
expresses the ability that one possesses to sense, approach,
draw spiritual power and communicate with gods. In ancient Okinawa,
people believed that women instead of men possessed these powers.
This belief is strongly symbolized in the "Onarigami"
faith. In this belief, women are considered spiritually superior
than men. In other words, Onari (sisters)
in a family precede their Ekeri
(brothers) and possess the ability to provide spiritual protection
over their male siblings. This belief is the ultimate origin
of women's predominance over men in various religious rituals.
As
seen in the Onarigami faith, the role of women in rituals or
festivals practiced in Okinawa is indeed significant. Even to
this day, rituals held at a certain sacred spot in groves protecting
the community are overseen by a group of women who communicate
with gods. Needless to say, men are prohibited to approach this
spot. Religious functions held in communities of Okinawa are
initiated by the male Nitchu,
head of the community's oldest family, and his sister, Niigami,
who holds religious authority. Selected among a group of the
same kinship, five to six priestesses, occasionally as many
as ten, share the functions together. Male priests called Nibutui
do participate as assistants in these functions but are limited
to serving sacred liquor to priestesses. 
In the old days, Noro priestesses
were appointed by Ryukyu kings of the former Shuri government
to oversee all religious functions at communities located on
the main island. The same system was also applied to Miyako
and Yaeyama Islands and it still remains to this very day. Since
communities on these islands have more than one sacred grove
(called "ong" in the
local dialect), religious functions are administered by priestesses
who are served by separate cult groups in the vicinities. On
Kudaka, an island near the main island of Okinawa, the concept
that "all women are servants of gods" is still alive
and they are obligated to serve to the gods until the age of
seventy. Women in the age group of thirty to forty-one undergo
their first rite to become Nanchu
priestesses in the rite known as Izaihoo
held once in twelve years.
As
noted above, women are considered to stand closer to gods and
possess the ability to sense spiritual power in Okinawa's society.
Other than the administrative priestesses officiating in rituals
or festivals, there are usually two or three women with special
spiritually responsive abilities in communities who have always
taken part in religious functions as priestesses or regarded
specially by their community members as "women guided by
supernatural influence". Such women who hold these abilities
and thus communicate with souls of departed ancestors are called
Yuta in Okinawa and are regarded
like shamans or magico-religious practitioners. They determine
what is good or bad luck for family-related affairs or religious
observances to honor family ancestors. These women are accepted
as professionals and have many followers or clients.
We
have sought to present a brief overview of ancient Okinawa through
descriptions of community rituals and the roles of various priestesses
officiating at observances. Even to this very day, each community
has its own unique identity that has been established from the
old days. This identity strongly lives and nurtures an unparalleled
world co-existing harmoniously with the past and present. |
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