Himiko

Himiko was a shamaness-queen of Yamatai-koku, a state in ancient Japan. She is mentioned in Chinese historical records as the ruler of Wa (Japan) and the friend of Wei, a kingdom in China. She came to power after a civil war among the kings of Wa and ruled with the help of a male assistant and a thousand female attendants. She practiced magic and sorcery and was revered by her people. She sent several embassies to Wei and received gifts and a gold seal from the Chinese emperor. She died in 248 AD and was succeeded by her relative Iyo. Her burial mound, Hashihaka Kofun, is located near Nara and is one of the largest in Japan. She is considered by some scholars as the originator of the Grand Shrine of Ise, the most sacred Shinto site in Japan. She is also associated with legendary figures such as Empress Consort Jingū and Empress Himiko, who appear in later Japanese histories. However, her historical existence and the location of her domain, Yamatai, are still debated by historians.