--- title: Queen Himiko author: Mark Cartwright source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Queen_Himiko/ format: machine-readable-alternate license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) updated: 2023-03-20 --- # Queen Himiko _Authored by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/)_ Queen Himiko, also known as Pimiko or Pimiku (183? - 248 CE), was a 3rd-century CE ruler of the territory in [ancient Japan](https://www.worldhistory.org/Ancient_Japan/) known as Hsieh-ma-t'ai or Yamatai, later to be known as Yamato. Considered by the Chinese as the ruler of all of [Japan](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Japan/) or Wa, given her state's power, she exchanged diplomatic embassies with the ruling Wei dynasty. A semi-legendary figure, Himiko is curiously absent from Japanese historical records but does appear briefly in Chinese histories. Himiko was noted for being a shaman queen, unmarried, and living in a fortress where she was served by 1,000 [women](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/women/). ### Yamatai Himeko's name in [archaic](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Archaic/) Japanese means Sun Child or Sun Daughter and probably alludes to her divine descent from [Amaterasu](https://www.worldhistory.org/Amaterasu/), the [Shinto](https://www.worldhistory.org/Shinto/) sun goddess, as all Japanese rulers would later be identified as being descendants of. Scholars do not agree on the exact location of Queen Himiko's state Hsieh-ma-tai/Yamatai. A minority place it in north Kyushu, but the majority consider the [Nara](https://www.worldhistory.org/Nara/) region as the most likely candidate. In Japan, at the time of her reign during the 3rd century CE, there were around 100 kingdoms spread across the islands. It seems that Himiko's state was the most powerful of these and may have led a loose federation of 30 states as the contemporary Chinese state recognised her as, in effect, the ruler of all of the Japanese islands. ### Historical References Queen Himiko's role as a shamaness or high priestess, not an uncommon practice for rulers in early East Asian cultures, is alluded to in Chinese sources. The Chinese history book *Wei Chih ('History of the Kingdom of Wei') which was written in 297 CE. There, we are told Himiko "occupied herself with magic and sorcery, bewitching the people" (Henshall, 152). Japanese dynastic histories such as the *[Kojiki](https://www.worldhistory.org/Kojiki/)* ('Record of Ancient Things'), compiled in 712 CE, and the *[Nihon Shoki](https://www.worldhistory.org/Nihon_Shoki/)* ('Chronicle of Japan' and also known as the Nihongi), compiled in 720 CE, do not mention Queen Himiko by name. It is recorded in the *Nihon Shoki* that the Queen (although not named) sent a tributary embassy to the Wei kingdom of [China](https://www.worldhistory.org/china/) in 238 CE: > In the sixth month of the third year of Ching-ch'u \[238 CE\] in the reign of Emperor Ming Ti, the queen of the Wa sent the grandee Nashonmi and other; they visited the prefecture and asked permission to proceed to the emperor's court and present tribute. The governor, Teng Hsia \[actually Liu Hsia\], dispatched an official who escorted them to the capital. (Keene, 72) Following this embassy, the Chinese gave Himiko the honour of the title 'Queen of Wa, Friendly to Wei' and a [gold](https://www.worldhistory.org/gold/) seal. Other gifts given to the queen in return for her tribute of fine cloth and slaves to the region's great power included beads, 100 [bronze](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/bronze/) mirrors, and swords, some items of which may have become part of the Japanese imperial regalia. Himiko sent two more embassies to China in 243 and 247 CE. For all these good relations there would not be any more contact between the two states until the [Sui Dynasty](https://www.worldhistory.org/Sui_Dynasty/) of the 7th century CE. [ ![Three Kingdoms Period of China and the Rise of Xianbei in the year 229 CE](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/750x750/6454.png?v=1765815545) Three Kingdoms Period of China and the Rise of Xianbei in the year 229 CE Stone Chen (CC BY-NC-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/6454/three-kingdoms-period-of-china-and-the-rise-of-xia/ "Three Kingdoms Period of China and the Rise of Xianbei in the year 229 CE")### Biographical Details According to the *Wei Chih*, Queen Himiko was chosen by her people following a turbulent period of 70 or 80 years beset by uprisings and [warfare](https://www.worldhistory.org/warfare/). Although enjoying a peaceful reign, the queen was said to have never married and lived as a recluse in a mighty towered fortress which was guarded from the outside by 100 men. Inside, the monarch was served by 1,000 female servants. Himiko did have one male attendant who served her food and acted as her point of contact with her kingdom and other states. She also left affairs of state to or at least shared them with her younger brother while she devoted herself to shamanism. It may be that this romantic description of seclusion and leaving politics to her brother is the result of author bias - it was common for Japanese rulers not to receive ambassadors, for example, which would lead Chinese visitors with the impression of a retiring monarch and later (male) writers were keen to establish a male-only line of sovereigns on the Japanese throne. When Himiko died in 248 CE, it is said that she was interred in a [tomb](https://www.worldhistory.org/tomb/) measuring 100 'paces' (equivalent to 150 metres) and that 100 slaves were sacrificed in her honour. With her [death](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Death/), Japan moved from the [Yayoi Period](https://www.worldhistory.org/Yayoi_Period/) (c. 300 BCE - c. 250 CE) to the [Kofun Period](https://www.worldhistory.org/Kofun_Period/) (c. 250-538 CE). ### Legacy Scholars continue to debate Himiko's role in Japanese history: who she was, where she might have ruled and what is the location of her fabled burial mound but without any consensus ever being reached on all three points. The ancient queen also continues to appeal to the imagination of the wider Japanese public and is easily the most recognisable name in history for the majority of Japanese school children. With regional beauty contests being held in her name, Tarot cards featuring her image, and manga comics starring the queen in various guises ranging from an erotic character to a symbol of female rulership, the legend of Himiko is sure to live on for a good while yet. This content was made possible with generous support from the [Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation](http://www.gbsf.org.uk/?utm_source=ancient.eu&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=ancient.eu). #### Editorial Review This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/). ## Bibliography - [Ebrey, P.B. *Pre-Modern East Asia.* Cengage Learning, 2008.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0547005393/) - Edwards, W. "In Pursuit of Himiko. Postwar Archaeology and the Location of Yamatai." *Monumenta Nipponica*, Vol. 51, No. 1 (Spring, 1996), pp. 53-79. - [Henshall, K. *Historical Dictionary of Japan to 1945.* Scarecrow Press, 2013.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0810878712/) - [Keene, Donald. *Seeds in the Heart.* Henry Holt & Co, 1995.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0805043640/) - [Sansom, G. *A History of Japan to 1334.* Stanford University Press, 1958.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0804705232/) ## About the Author Mark is WHE’s Publishing Director and has an MA in Political Philosophy (University of York). He is a full-time researcher, writer, historian and editor. Special interests include art, architecture and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share. ## Timeline - **c. 300 BCE - c. 250 CE**: The [Yayoi Period](https://www.worldhistory.org/Yayoi_Period/) in [ancient Japan](https://www.worldhistory.org/Ancient_Japan/). - **c. 183 CE - 248 CE**: Life of [Queen Himiko](https://www.worldhistory.org/Queen_Himiko/) of [Japan](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Japan/). - **c. 189 CE - 248 CE**: The reign of [Queen Himiko](https://www.worldhistory.org/Queen_Himiko/). ## Cite This Work ### APA Cartwright, M. (2017, May 01). Queen Himiko. *World History Encyclopedia*. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Queen\_Himiko/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Queen_Himiko/) ### Chicago Cartwright, Mark. "Queen Himiko." *World History Encyclopedia*, May 01, 2017. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Queen\_Himiko/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Queen_Himiko/). ### MLA Cartwright, Mark. "Queen Himiko." *World History Encyclopedia*, 01 May 2017, [https://www.worldhistory.org/Queen\_Himiko/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Queen_Himiko/). ## License & Copyright Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 01 May 2017. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.