What is the purpose of saibari music in mi-kagura ceremonies?

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woodcut: samisen player — Japanese music Courtesan playing a samisen, Japanese woodcut print.

In the context of mi-kagura ceremonies—the Shintō music and ritual performed exclusively within imperial palace grounds—the music is categorized into two distinct types based on its purpose.1

Saibari music is specifically intended to entertain the gods. This practice is rooted in the mythological tradition of providing amusements for the sun goddess, mirroring the legendary performances said to have been held to entice her from her seclusion.1

In contrast, the other type of mi-kagura music, known as torimono, is performed to praise the spirits or to seek their aid. Together, these musical forms reflect the complex, formal nature of imperial Shintō rituals compared to the more straightforward chanting found in general shrine practices.1