Writer w/ question to ensure accurate representation of culture

[rialovee]

Hi, I'm an American who writes romantic fantasy. One of my characters is a priestess, whom I imagine wearing the garments of a Shinto priestess. I tried to Google what said garments were called, but there were too many mixed answers for my liking. I thought perhaps an actual Japanese person on here could tell me what you would call them. I getting the sense that there were multiple versions or types of garments priestesses would use for different occassions, so I'll narrow it down by saying that I'm imagine Kikiyo's outfit from Inuyasha. I appreciate any assistance anyone could give me in properly identifying these garments. Thank you.

 

[Lothor]

Welcome to the forum! As a copyeditor of non-fiction books who does a lot of fact-checking, I'm impressed with your dedication to getting things right! I suggest going with the terminology in this article. I've done some freelance work for nippon.com and have always been impressed with their commitment to accuracy. The article is also written by a Shinto priest.

 

[rialovee]

Welcome to the forum! As a copyeditor of non-fiction books who does a lot of fact-checking, I'm impressed with your dedication to getting things right! I suggest going with the terminology in this article. I've done some freelance work for nippon.com and have always been impressed with their commitment to accuracy. The article is also written by a Shinto priest.

Thank you!

 

[Toritoribe]

Hi, I'm an American who writes romantic fantasy. One of my characters is a priestess, whom I imagine wearing the garments of a Shinto priestess. I tried to Google what said garments were called, but there were too many mixed answers for my liking. I thought perhaps an actual Japanese person on here could tell me what you would call them. I getting the sense that there were multiple versions or types of garments priestesses would use for different occassions, so I'll narrow it down by saying that I'm imagine Kikiyo's outfit from Inuyasha. I appreciate any assistance anyone could give me in properly identifying these garments. Thank you.

As in the wikipedia page linked below, it's just called 巫女装束 miko shōzoku, meaning "shrine maiden's clothing".

Miko clothing - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[rialovee]

As in the wikipedia page linked below, it's just called 巫女装束 miko shōzoku, meaning "shrine maiden's clothing".

Miko clothing - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Thanks!

 

[Glton]

Welcome to the forum! As a copyeditor of non-fiction books who does a lot of fact-checking, I'm impressed with your dedication to getting things right! I suggest going with the terminology in this article. I've done some freelance work for nippon.com and have always been impressed with their commitment to accuracy. The article is also written by a Shinto priest. In terms of your character's priestess garments, you're correct that there are different styles and meanings behind each. Shinto priestesses, or miko, typically wear a specific set of garments. These include a white kimono or hifu (a long-sleeved garment), and an obi (sash) in red, which symbolizes purity and is worn over the kimono. If you're looking for a more in-depth historical or cultural analysis, services like https://ca.edubirdie.com/do-my-assignment can help ensure your descriptions are both accurate and well-researched. For special ceremonies, miko might wear additional accessories or ceremonial items. Kikyo's outfit from Inuyasha is a stylized version of these garments, but it represents a more idealized form of traditional miko attire.

I totally agree! I've used nippon.com for research before, and their articles are always well-sourced and reliable. Having input from a Shinto priest definitely adds credibility. It's great to see such dedication to accuracy - this kind of attention to detail really makes a difference!