The princess profile I’m doing today is a little bit different. I have long had an interest in Japanese culture, and there is a legend I find particularly interesting, that of Queen Himiko. I have heard mention of her in everything from Japanese cook books to the Lolita inspired movie Shimotsuma Monogatari. Despite this, very little seems to be known about this ancient Japanese sovreign who ruled the Yamatai province until 248 AD.

What information I have is mostly from the few Chinese sources that mentioned her, so please read this with an understanding that there is not a great deal of information on this period of Japanese history, and part of the beauty and mystery of Himiko is in that her story has become blended with legend.

There were a people known as the Wa, they lived in the beautiful mountainous regions of Japan and divided in to over thirty communities. For a long time the Wa had only had male rulers, and there had been war and strife throughout the people. Tired of this unrest, they selected a woman to be their leader and Queen, her name was Himiko (sometimes written ‘pimiko’) and she succeeded in unifying the different communities, resisting the barbarian invasions in Yame and bringing peace and wealth to the Wa.

Many tales are told of this powerful Queen, that she was guarded by a thousand female servants, yet had one man to cook for her and take care of her wardrobe. That she trusted only her brother to aid her in politics. There is much mystery about her role as a leader, some records list her as a sorceress who enchanted her people, or a priestess or even oracle, but all agree that she had a powerful influence on the Wa who were very devoted to serving her. She lived in a fortress palace with armed guards who kept constant watch and she was rarely seen outside. The Chinese Emperor sent her one hundred bronze mirrors, some of which have since been discover by archaeologists.

On her death they built a burial mound more than a hundred paces across, and it is said that over one hundred attendants followed her to be buried in the grave. After she died, a male ruler was placed on the throne once again which caused much unrest until he was replaced by Himiko’s relative, a young woman named Iyo.

Himiko has been associated with and identified with many other figures in Japanese history, including Empress Consort Jingû, Yamatohime-no-mikoto - the daughter Emperor Suinin and even the Sun Goddess Amaterasu. It is interesting that Himiko’s name may have links to the words for ’sun’ (hi), ‘priestess’ (miko) and ‘princess’ (hime.)

I find her a fascinating character and she reminds me a little of Queen Elizabeth the first, for she also never married although she lived to 80 years of age and had a long reign. It is great to find strong and beautiful women in all eras of history and parts of the world, and Himiko is no exception.

resource 1, resource 2