Hachiman (God of warriors) and Hachiman shrine

In Japanese mythology, Hachiman (八幡神 Hachiman-jin/Yahata no kami^?) is the Japanese syncretic god of archery and war,^[1][2][3] incorporating elements from both Shinto and Buddhism.^[4] Although often called the god of war, he is more correctly defined as the tutelary god of warriors.^[4][5] He is also divine protector of Japan and the Japanese people. The name means God of Eight Banners, referring to the eight heavenly banners that signaled the birth of the divine Emperor Ōjin. His symbolic animal and messenger is the dove.

Since ancient times Hachiman was worshiped by peasants as the god of agriculture and by fishermen who hoped he would fill their nets with much fish. In the Shinto religion, he became identified by legend as the Emperor Ōjin, son of Empress Consort Jingū, from the 3rd – 4th century AD.

A Hachiman shrine (八幡神社 Hachiman Jinja^?, also Hachiman-gū (八幡宮^?)) is a Shinto shrine dedicated to kami Hachiman.^[1] It is the second most numerous type of Shinto shrine after those dedicated to Inari (see Inari Shrine).^[1]

Originally the name was read Yawata or Yahata, a reading still used in some occasions.

The following four shrines are often grouped into groups of three, either as Usa-Iwashimizu-Hakozaki or Usa-Iwashimizu-Tsurugaoka, and both of these groupings are known as the Three Major Hachiman Shrines of Japan.

• Usa Shrine 宇佐神宮 (Usa, Ōita) -- Sōhonsha (the head shrine) of Hachiman Shrines.
• Iwashimizu Shrine 岩清水八幡宮 (Yawata, Kyoto)
• Hakozaki Shrine 筥崎宮 (Fukuoka)
• Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū 鶴岡八幡宮 (Kamakura, Kanagawa)