Hachiman Shrine

This shrine enshrines Hachiman. During the Nara period, Hachiman was identified with the 15th Emperor Ojin (Prince Honda), and its main shrine is Usa Jingu Shrine in Usa City, Oita Prefecture. The Hachiman enshrined at this shrine entered the capital after providing divine assistance for the casting of the Great Buddha of Todaiji Temple, and after eliminating the tyranny of the priest Dokyo through a divine revelation, which established the belief that Hachiman was a guardian deity of the nation. Eventually, Hachiman was given the title of Bodhisattva, and the existing form of syncretism between Shinto and Buddhism was further advanced. In 859 (Jogan 1), a branch of the deity was enshrined at Otokoyama in Yamashiro Province (Kyoto Prefecture) and Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine was founded. Hachiman was revered by the court and people as a god of valor and protection of the royal palace, and faith in Hachiman spread rapidly, until Ise Shrine and Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine were known as the "two main shrines." Later, with the establishment of the samurai government and the founding of Tsuruoka Hachimangu Shrine, faith in Hachiman as the guardian deity of warriors spread, and Hachiman was enshrined all over the country, leading to the founding of Hachimangu Shrines.

[Masahiko Ninomiya]

"A Study of Hachiman Shrine" by Naokazu Miyaji (1956, Risosha) " "A Study of the History of Hachiman Faith" by Hatano Nakano, Volumes 1 and 2 (Expanded Edition, 1975, Yoshikawa Kobunkan)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

八幡神を祀(まつ)る神社。八幡神は奈良時代には第15代応神(おうじん)天皇（誉田(ほんだ)皇子）に比定され、その本宮は大分県宇佐(うさ)市鎮座の宇佐神宮である。この神宮に祀る八幡神が中央に進出するのは、東大寺大仏鋳造に神助を与えて入京したこと、法師道鏡(どうきょう)の専横を託宣によって排除したことなどで、八幡神を鎮護国家神とする信仰が確立された。やがて八幡神に菩薩(ぼさつ)号が授けられ、これまでの神仏習合形態はいっそう進められた。859年（貞観1）その分霊は山城(やましろ)国（京都府）男山(おとこやま)に勧請(かんじょう)されて石清水八幡宮(いわしみずはちまんぐう)が創祀(そうし)されると、八幡神は王城鎮護、勇武の神として朝野の尊崇を集め、八幡信仰は急速に広まり、やがて伊勢(いせ)の神宮と石清水八幡宮は「二所宗廟(にしょのそうびょう)」と称せられた。その後、武家政権の成立、鶴岡(つるがおか)八幡宮の創祀とともに、武人の守護神としての八幡信仰が普及し、全国各地に八幡神が勧請され、八幡宮が創設された。

［二宮正彦］

『宮地直一著『八幡宮の研究』（1956・理想社）』▽『中野幡能著『八幡信仰史の研究』上下（増補版・1975・吉川弘文館）』

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例