A person who communicates with gods or spirits, often in a Shinto context. 巫 is traditionally female, 覡 male, but 巫 is the general term. Modern usage is mostly historical or religious.
Since ancient times, mediums have played the role of conveying the words of the gods.
その神社では、今も巫が神事を行っている。
At that shrine, a shaman still performs Shinto rituals today.
General kanji for a medium or shaman; historically more associated with female practitioners.
Kana spelling used when the gender distinction is not needed or in modern contexts.
Specifically a male medium or shaman; rare and mostly historical.
The reading かんなぎ is of uncertain origin, possibly related to 神 (kami, 'god') and 和ぎ (nagi, 'calm') or 招ぎ (ogi, 'invite'), but the exact derivation is unclear. The kanji 巫 and 覡 are Chinese characters adopted for their meanings.