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{{short description|Japanese Shinto–Buddhist syncretic deity}}
[[File:八幡神坐像, Hachiman.jpg|thumb|300px|The Shinto deity Hachiman ([[Kamakura period]] 1326) at [[Tokyo National Museum]] (Lent by Akana Hachimangū), [[Important Cultural Property (Japan)|Important Cultural Property]]]]
In Japanese religion, '''''Yahata''''' (八幡神, ancient [[Shinto]] pronunciation) formerly in Shinto and later commonly known as '''Hachiman''' (八幡神, [[Buddhism in Japan|Japanese Buddhist]] pronunciation) is the [[Shinbutsu-shūgō|syncretic divinity]] of archery and war,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kanda |first1=Christine Guth |title=Shinzō: Hachiman Imagery and Its Development |series=Harvard East Asian Monographs |date=1 July 1985 |volume=119 |edition=1st |doi=10.2307/j.ctt1tg5jkx |publisher=Harvard University Asia Center, Harvard University}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Law |first1=Jane Marie |title=Violence, Ritual Reenactment, and Ideology: The "Hōjō-e" (Rite for Release of Sentient Beings) of the USA Hachiman Shrine in Japan |journal=History of Religions |date=1994 |volume=33 |issue=4 |pages=325–357 |doi=10.1086/463376 |jstor=1062714 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1062714 |issn=0018-2710|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | title = Hachiman & Hachimangū Shrines | url = http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/tsurugaoka-hachiman.shtml | quote = It was only later, sometime in the 9th century, that the deity became associated with Emperor Ōjin, and later still that Hachiman became worshipped as the god of archery and war, ultimately becoming the tutelary deity of the Minamoto clan and its famed warrior Minamoto Yoritomo 源頼朝 (1147–99), founder of the Kamakura shogunate }}</ref> incorporating elements from both [[Shinto]] and [[Buddhism in Japan|Buddhism]].<ref name="scheid">{{cite web|last=Scheid| first = Bernhard|title= Hachiman Shreine|url= http://www.univie.ac.at/rel_jap/bauten/bekannteschreine.htm| publisher= University of Vienna| access-date = 17 August 2010|language= de}}</ref> His title that was given ''' Great Bodhisattva of National Protection and Marvelous Spirit Power ''' (護国霊験威力神通大菩薩).

The first mention of this [[kami]] is found in the [[Shoku Nihongi]] as it contains the information that offerings were sent 794 CE to Hachiman shrines on the occasion of conflict with the kingdom [[Silla]] in Korea.<ref>Picken, Stuart (1994): Essentials of Shinto: An Analytical Guide to Principle Teachings. Green Wood Press, Westport. P. 103.</ref> 

In [[Shinto]] religion, he is mortally [[Emperor Ōjin]] (応神天皇, ''Ōjin Tennō'') by birth who reigned in the 3rd–4th century and the son of [[Empress Jingū]] (神功皇后, ''Jingū-kōgō''), later became deified and identified by legend as "''Yahata-no-kami''" meaning "Kami of Eight Banners", referring to the eight heavenly banners that signaled the birth of the divine and deified emperor, and is also called '''''Hondawake''''' (誉田別命). His messenger is the [[Columbidae|dove]], symbolizes both the bow and arrow found in samurai banners associated to him where he is called "''{{illm|Yumiya Hachiman|ja|弓矢八幡}}''".

Since ancient times Hachiman has been worshiped by farmers as the god of [[agriculture]] and by fishermen, who hoped that he would fill their nets with many fish.

During the age of the samurai, descendants of both samurai clans, [[Seiwa Genji]] (清和源氏 ''Seiwa Gen-ji'', a line of the [[Minamoto clan]] descended from [[Emperor Seiwa]]) and Kanmu Taira (桓武平氏 ''Kanmu Taira'u-ji/ Hei-shi/ Hei-ji'', a line of the [[Taira clan]] descended from [[Emperor Kanmu]]) honored Hachiman, from which the tradition is derived nationwide in which samurai clans (武家 "''buke"'' in Japanese) honor Hachiman as the deity sacred to them. His other roles include determining a samurai's fate—i.e., whether they are a success or failure in battle; controlling and protecting the martial arts; and proclaiming the victory of an army.

Although often called the god of war, he is more strictly defined as the [[Tutelary deity|tutelary god]] of warriors.<ref name="scheid" /><ref name="bunpu">{{cite web|last=Motegi|first=Sadazumi|title=Shamei Bunpu (Shrine Names and Distributions)|url=http://eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp/modules/xwords/entry.php?entryID=776|access-date=23 March 2010|publisher=Encyclopedia of Shinto|language=ja}}</ref> He is also the divine protector of [[Japan]], the [[Japanese people]] and the [[Imperial House of Japan|Imperial House]].

== Summary of Hachiman ==
[[File:Jingū Kōgō.jpg|thumb|Empress Jingū the mother of Emperor Ōjin]]
In the present form of Shinto, Hachiman is the divine spirit of Emperor Ōjin. [[Emperor Kinmei]] (欽明天皇, ''Kinmei-tennō'') in his Regnal Year 32 (571 [[Anno Domini|AD]]) decreed that the deified Emperor Ōjin was revealed for the first time in the land of Usa (宇佐の地)—the present-day city of [[Usa, Ōita|Usa]], in [[Ōita Prefecture|Oita Prefecture]]—where he became the patron deity of this city, along with a lesser Shinto female deity called ''Himegami'' (比売神) and the Emperor's mother, Empress Jingū.  This trio, known as '''Hachiman Mikami''' (八幡三神) is enshrined there. 

Amongst the ''Hachiman Mikami'', there are many shrines that enshrines other figures apart from the trio, like [[Emperor Chūai]] (仲哀天皇, ''Chūai-tennō'') instead of Empress Jingū, the legendary hero and Shinto deity ''[[Takenouchi no Sukune]]'' or ''Takeshiuchi no Sukune'' (武内宿禰) and the female deity ''[[Tamayori-hime (mother of Jimmu)|Tamayori-hime]]'' (玉依毘売命 or 玉依姫尊), where there is a dedicated prayer for safe childbirth in the Shinto shrine of [[Umi Hachiman-gū|Umi Hachimangū]] (宇美八幡宮) in [[Umi, Fukuoka|Umi]], [[Fukuoka prefecture]].

=== Himegami ===

The three ''Munakata'' goddesses (宗像三女神 ''Munakata Sanjoshin'') born from the divination ritual ''[[Ukehi]]'' or ''Ukei'' (宇気比, 誓約, 祈, 誓, 誓占, lit. "pledge divination") between the goddess [[Amaterasu]] and the god [[Susanoo-no-Mikoto|Susanoo]] - that is ''Tagitsu-hime'' (多岐津姫命), ''Ichikishima-hime'' (市杵嶋姫命) and ''Tagairi-hime'' (多紀理姫命) - is said where they descended from the heavens as the "Three Pillars of ''Usanoshima'' (宇佐嶋) of the ancient province of [[Tsukushi Province|Tsukushi]] (筑紫)", located in a temple complex on Mt. Omotosan (御許山) in Usa. 

The ''Munakata'' goddesses are thereby the [[Matriarchy|matriarchs]] of an ancient tribe and clan ''Munakata-shi'' (宗像氏, 宗形氏) which fishermen worshipped collectively as a whole. It is thought that the worship of ''Munakata'' goddesses by the ''Munakata'' clan was due to Empress Jingū's success in the "Conquest of the [[Three Kingdoms of Korea|Three Kingdoms (of Korea)]]" (三韓征伐 ''Sankan Seipatsu''). Therefore, they are old Shinto folk deities (地主神 ''[[jinushigami]]'') before the presence of Hachiman. 

''Himegami'' (比売神) is thought to be the consort or aunt of Hachiman, whereas ''[[Tamayori-hime (mother of Jimmu)|Tamayori-hime]]'' (玉依毘売命 or 玉依姫尊) possibly and perhaps as the mother viewed by opinion aforementioned. Since the description of Hachiman as the Emperor Ōjin appeared in the "Digest Record of [[Tōdai-ji|''Todai-ji Temple'']] (東大寺要録 ''Tōdai-ji Yoroku'')" and "Records of the Age of the Gods from the [[Sumiyoshi-taisha|''Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine'']] (住吉大社神代記 ''Sumiyoshi-Taisha Jindaiki''), the practice of merging Emperor Ōjin into Hachiman is estimated to have begun in the [[Nara period|Nara Period]] or the [[Heian period|Heian Period]]. 

There are also different theories and opinions concerning the goddesses Amaterasu and ''[[Kukurihime|Kukuri-hime]]'' (菊理媛神 or 菊理媛命, a [[Shinto]] [[goddess]] venerated as ''Shirayama-hime'' (白山比咩), in which both called the goddess ''Himegami'' ''[[Himiko]]'' (卑弥呼, or ''Pimiko'', also known as ''Shin-gi Wa-ō'' (親魏倭王, "Ruler of Wa, Friend of Wei"), a [[Shaman|shamaness]]-queen of [[Yamatai|Yamatai-koku]] in [[Wa (Japan)|Wakoku]] (倭国) around <abbr>c.</abbr> 170–248 AD.

=== Empress Jingū ===

Emperor Ojin was already destined to ascend the throne from the moment in the womb of his mother and Empress, is called "Emperor in the Womb", is based and interpreted sometimes in her belief as being the "mother deity" to the child-to-be who would be deified. The Three ''Munakata'' Goddesses, the Three ''Sumiyoshi'' Gods (住吉三神 ''[[Sumiyoshi sanjin|Sumiyoshi Sanjin]]'') and the goddess Amaterasu who were revered by the tribal clan ''Munakata-shi'' due to their aid in the "Conquest of the Three Kingdoms (of Korea)" is also worshiped in various places. It is said by tradition in commemoration after the conquest, Empress Jingu set up eight big military flags on [[Tsushima Island|Tsushima]] (対馬) which then became the origin of the name "''Hirohatano Yahata Ōkami'' (広幡乃八幡大神)''",'' also the origin of the name "''Yahata'' (八幡)''"'' to the Empress' son, the then-emperor Ojin.

== Imperial Ancestor and Deity to the Imperial Family ==
[[File:Usa Shrine (Nanchūrōmon).jpg|thumb|right|[[Usa jingū|Usa Shrine]], at [[Usa, Ōita|Usa]] in [[Ōita Prefecture|Oita Prefecture]] dedicated to Hachiman, founder and patron deity of this city]]Since Hachiman was considered to be a divine spirit of the Emperor Ojin, he was placed as both the ancestor and ''Kōso-shin'' (皇祖神, "Imperial Ancestor Deity") of the [[Imperial Family of Japan]]. He was considered to be the guardian deity of the Imperial Household after the Grand Goddess ''Amaterasu'' written down in the "Chronicle of the ''Jōkyū'' Era" (''承久記 Jōkyūki'') to the "Compilation of the Grand Goddess ''Amaterasu'' of [[Ise, Mie|Ise]] and ''Hachiman Daibosatsu'' on the Imperial Throne of Japan". 

The founding of ''Konda Hachiman-gū'' (誉田八幡宮) Shrine at [[Habikino]] in [[Osaka Prefecture]] have been a long time linked with the connection to Emperor Ojin, therefore the Imperial Family also both revered the [[Usa jingū|Usa Shrine]] (宇佐神宮 ''Usa Jingū'', also known as 宇佐八幡宮 ''Usa Hachiman-gū'') at [[Usa, Ōita|Usa]] in [[Ōita Prefecture|Oita Prefecture]], and the [[Iwashimizu Hachiman Shrine]] (石清水八幡宮 ''Iwashimizu Hachiman-gū'') at [[Yawata, Kyoto|Yawata]] in [[Kyoto Prefecture]], as the second ancestral shrine after the dominant [[Ise Grand Shrine]] (伊勢神宮 ''Ise Jingū'')'''.'''

==Syncretism of Hachiman in between Shinto and Buddhism==
[[File:Sōgyō Hachiman.jpg|thumb|The Buddhist ''Sogyō Hachiman'' depicted in the attire of a Buddhist monk, syncretised from the Shinto deity Hachiman]]

After the arrival of [[Buddhism]] in Japan, Hachiman became a [[Syncretism|syncretistic]] [[deity]], fusing elements of the native ''kami'' worship with Buddhism (''[[shinbutsu-shūgō]]''). In the 8th century AD, he joined the Buddhist [[Pantheon (gods)|pantheon]] as {{nihongo |Great [[Bodhisattva]] Hachiman|八幡大菩薩|Hachiman Daibosatsu}}<ref name="bender1">{{cite journal|last=Bender|first=Ross|year=1979|title=The Hachiman Cult and the Dōkyō Incident|journal=Monumenta Nipponica|volume=34|issue=2|pages=125–53|doi=10.2307/2384320|jstor=2384320}}</ref> where his ''[[Shinto shrine|jinja]]'' (神社 - Shinto shrines) ''and [[List of Jingū|jingu]]'' (神宮 - Shinto shrine of the Imperial family) were incorporated to shrines in Buddhist temples (寺 ''tera'').

This transition happened when the Great Buddha of [[Tōdai-ji]] (東大寺, ''Eastern Great Temple'') was being built and recorded in the era of the "First Year of ''[[Tenpyō-shōhō]]'' (天平勝宝 "Heavenly Peace and Victorious Treasure")" under the reign of Empress [[Empress Kōken|Kōken]] in 749 AD, an oracle was declared by Hachiman to a senior Shinto priest (禰宜 ''negi'') and nun from Usa Shrine to proceed to the capital (in [[Nara, Japan|Nara]]) that Hachiman would cooperate in the construction of a "Great Buddha" dedicated to him. From this recognition Hachiman was syncretised into Buddhism from early on. 

Then in the "First Year of the Era of [[Ten'ō]] (天応)" under the reign of [[Emperor Kōnin]] in 781 AD, the Shinto imperial court granted the Shinto deity ''Usa Hachiman'' (Hachiman of [[Usa Hachiman-gū|Usa]]) with Buddhist deity ''Hachiman Daibosatsu'' as the guardian god for the spiritual protection of the state. As a result, the spread of worship to Hachiman is transferred and received to Buddhist temples or shrines throughout the country where the "theory of Shinto and Buddhist syncretism (本地垂迹 ''Honji Suijaku'')" is established, therefore considered [[Amitābha|Amitabha]] to be the Buddha manifestation of Hachiman. However, the Japanese Buddhist priest [[Nichiren]] (日蓮) of the [[Kamakura period|Kamakura Period]] says he denies the theory and assumes the true form of ''Hachiman Daibosatsu'' is [[Shakyamuni Buddha]] (i.e. Gautama Buddha)''.''

Thereafter in the [[Heian period|Heian Period]], veneration of Shinto shrines of Hachiman have been received and gathered throughout the nation by the samurai clans Seiwa of the Genji clan (清和源氏) and Kanmu of the Taira clan (桓武平氏). When the theory of syncretism has spread during this period, Hachiman is depicted to represent a Buddhist monk and is then called ''Sogyō Hachiman'' (僧形八幡神, "Buddhist Priest-Form Hachiman").

==Worship of Hachiman by the Samurai==
[[File:Sasaki Toyokichi - Nihon hana zue - Walters 95217.jpg|thumb| The great 11th-century warrior Hachimantarō Yoshiie [[avatar]] of Hachiman has just emerged from a mountain pass surrounded by cherry trees. In the cartouche appears the poem he wrote on the occasion: "If Come-Not Gate is not a windy place, why do cherry blossoms cover the path?"]]
[[File:刀 次郎太郎直勝 Katana forged by Jirotaro Naokatsu 2.jpg|thumb|This is a [[katana]] forged by Jirotaro Naokatsu in 1838 of the [[Edo period]], and the words ''Hachiman Daibosatsu''  (Great Bodhisattva Hachiman) are engraved on the blade.]]
Because Emperor Ōjin was an ancestor of the [[Minamoto]] warrior clan, Hachiman became its {{nihongo|tutelary ''kami''|氏神|ujigami|}}.<ref name="bunpu"/> [[Minamoto no Yoshiie]], upon coming of age at [[Iwashimizu Shrine]] in [[Kyoto]], took the name ''Hachiman Taro Yoshiie'', and, through his military prowess and virtue as a leader, came to be regarded and respected as the ideal samurai through the ages. After [[Minamoto no Yoritomo]] became ''[[shōgun]]'' and established the [[Kamakura shogunate]], Hachiman's popularity grew and he became by extension the protector of the warrior class that the shōgun had brought to power. For this reason, the ''[[shintai]]'' of a [[Hachiman Shrine|Hachiman shrine]] is usually a [[stirrup]] or a bow.<ref name="ash">{{cite book|last=Ashkenazy|first=Michael|title=Handbook of Japanese Mythology (World Mythology) (Hardcover)|publisher=ABC-CLIO|date=November 5, 2003|isbn=978-1-57607-467-1|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/handbookofjapane0000ashk}}</ref>

Following the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate, the worship of Hachiman spread throughout Japan among not only samurai, but also the peasantry. There are now about 2,500 [[Shinto shrines]] dedicated to Hachiman, who has more shrines dedicated to him than any other deity except [[Inari (god)|Inari]]. [[Usa Shrine]] in [[Usa, Oita|Usa]], [[Ōita Prefecture]] is head shrine of all these shrines; other important Hachiman shrines are [[Iwashimizu Hachiman-gū]], [[Hakozaki-gū]] and [[Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū]].

Hachiman's [[mon (emblem)]] is a ''[[mitsudomoe]]'', a round whirlpool or [[vortex]] with three heads swirling right or left.  Many samurai clans used this ''mon'' as their own, including some that traced their ancestry back to the mortal enemy of the [[Minamoto]], the [[Emperor Kanmu]] of the [[Taira]] clan ({{langx|ja|桓武平氏}}, ''Kanmu Heishi'').

== See also ==
* [[Vaiśravaṇa#In Japan|Bishamon]] -- Shinto-Buddhist God of War
* [[Hachiman shrine]]
* [[Heki Danjō Masatsugu]]
* [[Hitogami]]
* [[Kamikaze (typhoon)]]
* [[Minamoto no Yorinobu]]
* [[Minamoto no Yoriyoshi]]
* [[Tachibana Dōsetsu]]
* [[Tōdai-ji Hachiman]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* [https://www.worldhistory.org/Hachiman/ "Hachiman"] – [[Ancient History Encyclopedia]]
* {{cite journal | last = Bender | first = Ross | date= Summer 1978 | title = Metamorphosis of a Deity: The Image of Hachiman in ''Yumi Yawata'' | journal = [[Monumenta Nipponica]] | volume = 33 | issue = 2 | pages = 165–78 | jstor = 2384124| doi = 10.2307/2384124}}
* {{cite thesis | last = Bender | first = Ross  | title = The Political Meaning of the Hachiman Cult in Ancient and Early Medieval Japan | degree = Ph.D. |location=New York | publisher = [[Columbia University]] | year = 1980 | url = http://rossbender.org/dissertation.html | oclc=80794660  | access-date =24 June 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150414011259/http://rossbender.org/dissertation.html | archive-date = 2015-04-14 | url-status = dead }}

== External links ==
* {{commonscatinline|Hachiman}}

{{Shinto shrines}}
{{Hachiman Faith}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Hachiman faith| ]]
[[Category:Japanese gods]]
[[Category:Oracular deities]]
[[Category:Shinbutsu shūgō]]
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[[Category:Mythological archers]]
[[Category:Bodhisattvas]]
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[[Category:Buddhist gods]]
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