斎さい院いん

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.

• 平へい安あん時じ代だいには、斎さい院いんは伊い勢せ神じん宮ぐうに奉ほう仕しする皇こう女じょのことを指さした。

  In the Heian period, 斎院 referred to an imperial princess who served at Ise Shrine.