Ise Grand Shrine
In Shintoism, "Saiin" (斎院, saiin?) were unmarried female relatives of the Japanese emperor who served as high priestesses at Ise Grand Shrine from the late 7th century until the 14th century. Ise Grand Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the goddess Amaterasu-ōmikami. "Saiin" priestesses were usually elected from royalty (内親王, "naishinnō") such as princesses (女王, "joō"). In principle, "Saiin" remained unmarried, but there were exceptions. Some "Saiin" became consorts of the Emperor, called Nyōgo in Japanese. According to the Man'yōshū (The Anthology of Ten Thousand Leaves), the first "Saiō" to serve at Ise Grand Shrine was Princess Ōku, daughter of Emperor Tenmu, during the Asuka period of Japanese history.