Hachiman
Japanese · deity · kofun and medieval deification · deity
Japanese war-and-archery deity, identified by tradition as the deified 15th Emperor Ōjin. Cult-center at Usa Hachimangū in Kyushu (founding) and Iwashimizu Hachimangū in Kyoto (imperial-recognized, 859 CE). Tutelary kami of the Minamoto warrior clan from the 11th century onward; their genealogical descent from Emperor Ōjin made Hachiman their ujigami. Father of Minamoto no Yoshiie under the Mongán-pattern medieval-literary divine-paternity claim preserved in the Heike Monogatari and the Hachimantarō-naming. Currently second only to Inari in the number of dedicated shrines across Japan (~25,000).
Children
Domains
- war and archery
- tutelary of warriors and imperial protection
Powers
- Sends the divine wind (kamikaze) that scatters invading fleets
- Extends divine protection over the nation and warriors
- Sends the divine wind that scatters invading fleets
- Delivers oracles declaring the divine will
- Protects the realm and grants victory to warriors
- Issues oracles declaring the divine will
Epithets
- 八幡大菩薩
- 誉田別命
- 弓矢八幡
Relations
- father of: Yoshiie