The dances performed by shrine maidens in ancient Japan, through which gods were believed to alight upon and possess the maidens who were performing the rituals for the gods, were later formalized and took the current form of dances for solemn prayer and dedication to the gods.
古代日本において、祭祀を司る巫女自身の上に神が舞い降りるという神がかりの儀式のために行われた舞がもととなり、それが様式化して祈祷や奉納の舞となった。