Himiko, High Shaman – Strategy and Guide

Intro

The shaman-queen of Yamatai, Himiko emerges at the dawn of Japanese history. Her name, literally “daughter of the sun,” links Himiko, High Shaman, to the sun goddess Amaterasu, whose power she may have harnessed to unite the warring tribes of Japan. This shamanic connection is present in other stories, such as Himiko’s marriage to a divine being whose true form is that of a white snake.

Whatever the truth behind Himiko’s legend, she established the link between the Shinto gods and the Empire of Japan that continued for over a thousand years afterwards. As a leader in Civilization VII, Himiko provides powerful bonuses to Happiness, Culture, and Production that can propel your empire to greatness. Himiko has a second persona, called Himiko, Queen of Wa.

Strategy

As Himiko, your path to victory lies in leveraging your unique bonuses to rapidly expand your empire’s Culture and Happiness. Build plenty of Happiness-boosting structures in your cities and aim to trigger frequent Celebrations for maximum benefits.

Some key tips for playing as Himiko:

• Prioritize constructing Happiness buildings like Shrines, Temples, and Amphitheaters to take full advantage of Himiko’s leader ability.
• Use the extra Production towards Happiness buildings to quickly develop your infrastructure.
• Time your Celebrations strategically to coincide with important Cultural milestones or civic boosts.
• Avoid building too many Science or Gold generating buildings, as they will harm your relationship with Himiko AI opponents.
• Aim for a Cultural or Diplomatic victory, focusing on wonders, great works, and strategic alliances.

With careful planning and a focus on Culture and Happiness, Himiko’s bonuses can propel you to a glorious victory in Civ VII. May Amaterasu’s radiant power guide your empire to prosperity!

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Civilopedia Entry

Early Japanese history is divided into three distinct periods: the Jomon, the Yayoi, and the Yamato. It is during the latter period that what we recognize as “Japan” takes shape, although it is in the subsequent Heian period that a lot of the recognizable art, literature, and dress come into being.

Himiko herself was both a religious and political leader. From her base at Yamatai, she is primarily known from Chinese records. Himiko sent gifts to the Cao Wei kingdom, the northernmost of the three states that divided China between them in the third century CE. In these records Himiko is dubbed “Queen of Wa and friend of Wei” by the Chinese emperor.

Himiko’s story gets interesting when she is accused of sorcery. Chinese sources allege that she bewitched all of the residents of Wa into submitting to her rule, and that she lived in a great castle served entirely by female attendants and guards (excepting one man, who brought her food). This mystical reputation is compounded in Japanese records, which identify Himiko with a number of divine beings: as the high shaman of the Japanese sun goddess Amaterasu, or a shamanic wife of a divine snake.

Whatever the nature of her demise, upon Himiko’s death, the people of Yamatai raised a burial mound for her. According to legend, the subsequent ruler was intended to be a king, but the people, still mourning their deceased queen, refused his rule until Himiko’s relative Iyo, a girl of thirteen, was offered as the new ruler, and order was restored.

In our representation here, we have patterned Himiko off of similar spirit mediums elsewhere in the region and presented her as a person who acts as a conduit for the goddess Amaterasu. Their relationship is close, like mother and daughter inhabiting the same body, and our Himiko switches between the two voices of queen and goddess seemingly without knowing.

Unique Ability: Miko of Amaterasu

• Increased Happiness per Age on Happiness Buildings
• Increased Production towards constructing Happiness Buildings
• Gain increased Culture but slightly reduced Science, with increased effects during a Celebration

Agenda: Shaman Queen

• Decrease Relationship by a Small Amount per Settlement with constructed Science and Gold Buildings
• Increase Relationship by a Small Amount per Settlement with Culture and Happiness Buildings

Trivia

• Himiko, High Shaman is a leader persona available with the Sid Meier’s Civilization® VII: Founders Content Pack DLC
• Her leader ability name “Miko of Amaterasu” translates to “shrine maiden of Amaterasu”, referencing her role as the high shaman of the Japanese sun goddess
• Himiko’s alternate persona is Himiko, Queen of Wa, representing her more historical/political leadership role

TL;DR

Himiko, High Shaman is a powerful Culture and Happiness focused leader in Civilization VII. Her unique bonuses encourage building Happiness-generating structures and triggering Celebrations frequently for maximum benefits to Culture and Production. Aim for a Cultural or Diplomatic victory as Himiko by leveraging her supernatural connection to the sun goddess Amaterasu.