Shrine maidens (巫女, pronounced miko) refer specifically to priestesses of the Shinto religion. They live and work in a Shinto shrine, or a "jinja" in Japanese. Shrine maidens are generally virgins and take various rites of purity and chastity, as well as various physical and mental training. Sealing and purification rituals are also highly form-based and symbolic, and are used to bless, purify, or exorcise evil spirits.
A shrine maiden's main tool, or possibly just most featured one, is a stick with elaborately folded paper on the end called a "Haragushi". Also common tools are small rectangular papers of sealing, called "ofuda", which are elaborately painted with various mystical symbols and rites of sealing.
- Example: Reimu Hakurei
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