| Himiko | |
|---|---|
 Illustration of Empress Jingū wearing a crown from 1859 | |
|
Other Names |
Shingi Waō |
|
Born |
170–247 AD |
|
Died |
248 AD |
Origin[]
Himiko also known as the Shingi Waō (Ruler of Wa, Friend of Wei), was a shamaness-queen of Yamatai-koku in Wakoku. Early Chinese dynastic histories chronicle tributary relations between Queen Himiko and the Cao Wei Kingdom (220–265) and record that the Yayoi period people chose her as ruler following decades of warfare among the kings of Wa. Early Japanese histories do not mention Himiko, but historians associate her with legendary figures such as Empress Consort Jingū, who is said to have served as regent from 201 to 269.
The first historical records of Himiko are found in the Records of the Three Kingdoms, a Chinese classic text dating to c. 297. However, rather than Records of the Three Kingdoms, Japanese scholars use the term of Gishi Wajinden ("Records of Wei: Account of Wajin"), a Japanese abbreviation for the account of Wajin in the "Biographies of the Wuhuan, Xianbei, and Dongyi" Volume 30 of the "Book of Wei" of the Records of the Three Kingdoms.
This early history describes how Himiko came to the throne:
"The country formerly had a man as ruler. For some seventy or eighty years after that there were disturbances and warfare. Thereupon the people agreed upon a woman for their ruler. Her name was Himiko. She occupied herself with magic and sorcery, bewitching the people. Though mature in age, she remained unmarried. She had a younger brother who assisted her in ruling the country. After she became the ruler, there were few who saw her. She had one thousand women as attendants, but only one man. He served her food and drink and acted as a medium of communication. She resided in a palace surrounded by towers and stockades, with armed guards in a state of constant vigilance."
The "Records of Wei" also records envoys traveling between the Wa and Wei courts. Himiko's emissaries first visited the court of Wei emperor Cao Rui in 238, and he replied:
"Herein we address Himiko, Queen of Wa, whom we now officially call a friend of Wei. Your envoys have arrived here with your tribute, consisting of four male slaves and six female slaves, together with two pieces of cloth with designs, each twenty feet in length. You live very far away across the sea; yet you have sent an embassy with tribute. Your loyalty and filial piety we appreciate exceedingly. We confer upon you, therefore, the title "Queen of Wa Friendly to Wei," together with the decoration of the gold seal with purple ribbon. The latter, properly encased, is to be sent to you through the Governor. We expect you, O Queen, to rule your people in peace and to endeavor to be devoted and obedient."
Finally, the "Records of Wei" records that in 247 when a new governor arrived at Daifang Commandery in Korea, Queen Himiko officially complained of hostilities with Himikuko (Pimikuko), the king of Kuna, one of the other Wa states. The governor dispatched "Chang Chêng, acting Secretary of the Border Guard" with a "proclamation advising reconciliation", and subsequently:
"When Himiko passed away, a great mound was raised, more than a hundred paces in diameter. Over a hundred male and female attendants followed her to the grave. Then a king was placed on the throne, but the people would not obey him. Assassination and murder followed; more than one thousand were thus slain. A relative of Himiko named Iyo, a girl of thirteen, was then made queen and order was restored. Chêng issued a proclamation to the effect that Iyo was the ruler."
Depictions of Himiko in Japanese popular media take one of three archetypes: Himiko as a wise, old ruler; Himiko the cute and energetic shaman; or Himiko as a seductive sorceress. She is associated with several ritual objects including the dotaku – two large bronze bells ritually used at the end of the Yayoi period – as well as the sakaki branch and Chinese bronze mirrors. The Wei Zhi described Himiko's shamanism as guidao, or Japanese kido, a type of Daoist folk religion. As such, Himiko is sometimes negatively associated with black magic or demons. Ruling in the transitional period between the Yayoi and Kofun eras, depictions of Himiko often display her wearing clothing originating from a variety of time periods, often embodied masculine elements. A queen during the late Yayoi, Himiko likely wore a one-piece, wide-sleeved kosode under a vest and sash. She is also often depicted wearing magatama beads and a diadem. However, no one can be certain what Himiko wore.
Public Domain Appearances[]
All published appearances of Himiko from before January 1, 1930 are public domain in the US.
Public Domain Literary Appearances[]
- Records of the Three Kingdoms (297)
- Samguk Sagi (1145)