News — TraditionalCulture

What is a Miko? Miko, or shrine maiden, is the name of a type of priest working at a Japanese Shinto shrine. A miko typically refers to as young female priests. For centuries, miko have performed kagura (sacred dances for entertaining and satisfying the Shinto deities), conducted exorcisms, practiced divinations, acted oracles. Believed to posses magical powers, they also worked as spirit mediums, channeling spirits, and carried out various other functions as required of them at their given shrine. Today, however, miko are tasked with performing kagura and other ritual dances during special occasions and aid the priests of the...