also: いつきのいん
noun
imperial princess serving as Ise priestess; office of the Ise priestess
Historical term for an unmarried imperial princess who served as the high priestess at Ise Shrine, or the office itself. The system existed from the Heian period until the early 14th century.
平安時代には、斎院は伊勢神宮に奉仕する皇女のことを指した。
In the Heian period, 斎院 referred to an imperial princess who served at Ise Shrine.
斎宮 also refers to an imperial princess serving at Ise Shrine, but 斎院 specifically denotes the office or the princess in her role as priestess, while 斎宮 can refer to the princess herself or her residence.
From 斎 (purification, abstinence) and 院 (institution, residence). The term originally referred to the office or residence of the imperial princess who served as the high priestess at Ise Shrine.