Saio of the Ise-jingu and Kamo-jinja Shrines were called Saigu, and Saiin respectively; the former lasted from ancient times (the time of Emperor Tenmu) to the period of the Northern and the Southern Courts (Japan); the latter from the Heian to the Kamakura periods.
伊勢神宮の斎王を斎宮、賀茂神社の斎王を斎院とも称し、斎宮は古代（天武朝）から南北朝時代(日本)まで、斎院は平安時代から鎌倉時代まで継続した。