The Tales of Ise
From the late 7th century until the 14th century, the role of chief priestess of Ise Shrine was carried out by a female member of the Imperial House of Japan known as a saiō. According to the "Man'yōshū", the first saiō to serve at the shrine was Princess Ōku, daughter of Emperor Tenmu, during the Asuka period. Mention of Ise Shrine's saiō is also made in the Aoi, Sakaki and Yugao chapters of "The Tale of Genji" as well as in the 69th chapter of "The Tales of Ise". The saiō system ended during the turmoil of the Nanboku-chō period.