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Hachiman, commonly described as a god of war, is a [[Shinto]] [[kami|deity]], the patron deity of the [[Minamoto clan]], [[Murakami clan]], and others, as well as of the [[Sho Dynasty|Shô Dynasty]] of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]]. Hachiman Shrines are the most numerous category of [[Shinto shrines]] in Japan, with more than 40,000 Hachiman shrines dotted across the country, and worship of Hachiman has been described as "the most influential popular religion in Japanese history."<ref>Ward, 120.; Gregory Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', University of Hawaii Press (2019), 42.</ref>

Hachiman, commonly described as a god of war, is a [[Shinto]] [[kami|deity]], the patron deity of the [[Minamoto clan]], [[Murakami clan]], and others, as well as of the [[Sho Dynasty|Shô Dynasty]] of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]]. Hachiman Shrines are the most numerous category of [[Shinto shrines]] in Japan, with more than 40,000 Hachiman shrines dotted across the country, and worship of Hachiman has been described as "the most influential popular religion in Japanese history."<ref>Ward, 120.; Gregory Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', University of Hawaii Press (2019), 42.</ref>

Hachiman was first worshipped as one of the household deities of the [[Usa clan]] of [[Kyushu]], along with a sun goddess called [[Hibigami]]. Adopted by the Minamoto [[shogun]]s as their chief patron deity, Hachiman later became established as one of the chief protectors of the Imperial family, the Japanese nation, and the cosmos. [[Usa Hachiman Shrine]] in [[Buzen province]], one of the chief Hachiman shrines in Japan, was used as the Imperial court's branch court in Kyushu at times, and emperors and empresses made pilgrimages to Usa to pray for the protection of the Imperial family and the nation on countless occasions beginning in [[720]], up until the time of [[Emperor Komei|Emperor Kômei]] in [[1864]]. The [[Nata family]], lords of territories in the Kunisaki peninsula of [[Bungo province]], hereditarily held the position of high priest at Usa Hachiman from [[729]] until the 17th century. The Usa shrine played a key role in the [[Dokyo|Dôkyô]] incident in the 8th century; [[Daibu Hachiman-gu|Daibu Hachiman Shrine]] in Fukuoka was another of the chief Hachiman shrines in the region at that time.<ref>Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', 43.</ref>

Hachiman was first worshipped as one of the household deities of the [[Usa clan]] of [[Kyushu]], along with a sun goddess called [[Hibigami]]. Adopted by the Minamoto [[shogun]]s as their chief patron deity, Hachiman later became established as one of the chief protectors of the Imperial family, the Japanese nation, and the cosmos. [[Usa Hachiman Shrine]] in [[Buzen province]], one of the chief Hachiman shrines in Japan, was used as the Imperial court's branch court in Kyushu at times, and emperors and empresses made pilgrimages to Usa to pray for the protection of the Imperial family and the nation on countless occasions beginning in [[720]], up until the time of [[Emperor Komei|Emperor Kômei]] in [[1864]]. The [[Nata family]], lords of territories in the Kunisaki peninsula of [[Bungo province]], hereditarily held the position of high priest at Usa Hachiman from [[729]] until the 17th century. The Usa shrine played a key role in the [[Dokyo|Dôkyô]] incident in the 8th century; [[Daibu Hachiman-gu|Daibu Hachiman Shrine]] in Fukuoka was another of the chief Hachiman shrines in the region at that time.<ref name=smits43>Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', 43.</ref>

The four chief Hachiman Shrines in Japan today are Usa Hachiman, [[Hakozaki Shrine]] in [[Fukuoka]], [[Iwashimizu Hachiman Shrine]] in [[Yawata]] (near [[Kyoto]]), and [[Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine]] in [[Kamakura]]. The latter was established as a branch of Iwashimizu Hachiman in [[1063]], after [[Minamoto no Yoriyoshi]] prayed to Hachiman for victory against [[Abe no Sadato|Abe no Sadatô]]; this shrine was then moved to its current location in Kamakura in [[1180]] by [[Minamoto no Yoritomo]], who embraced Hachiman as the tutelary deity of the [[Kamakura shogunate]] and of the Minamoto clan.

The four chief Hachiman Shrines in Japan today are Usa Hachiman, [[Hakozaki Shrine]] in [[Fukuoka]], [[Iwashimizu Hachiman Shrine]] in [[Yawata]] (near [[Kyoto]]), and [[Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine]] in [[Kamakura]]. The latter was established as a branch of Iwashimizu Hachiman in [[1063]], after [[Minamoto no Yoriyoshi]] prayed to Hachiman for victory against [[Abe no Sadato|Abe no Sadatô]]; this shrine was then moved to its current location in Kamakura in [[1180]] by [[Minamoto no Yoritomo]], who embraced Hachiman as the tutelary deity of the [[Kamakura shogunate]] and of the Minamoto clan.

During the [[Mongol Invasions]] in the 1270s-1280s, Hachiman shrines throughout Kyushu became major centers of prayers for the protection of the country, and after the successful repulsion of those invasions, Usa Hachiman's prestige as a protector of the nation increased.

During the [[Mongol Invasions]] in the 1270s-1280s, Hachiman shrines throughout Kyushu became major centers of prayers for the protection of the country, and after the successful repulsion of those invasions, Usa Hachiman's prestige as a protector of the nation increased. Hachiman was also widely credited with defeating the [[1419]] [[Oei Invasion|Korean invasion of Tsushima]], as most at the time did not know that the [[Mongol Empire]] had already fallen and had no involvement in this later invasion.<ref>Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', 44.</ref>

The Hachiman legend of course has seen considerable change and expansion over the centuries. At some point, Hachiman was retroactively associated with [[Emperor Ojin|Emperor Ôjin]], and thus as the son of [[Empress Jingu|Empress Jingû]]; various Hachiman-related texts relate that it was the as-yet-unborn Ôjin/Hachiman in Jingû's womb that aided her in succeeding in her mythical invasions of Korea.

The Hachiman legend of course has seen considerable change and expansion over the centuries. At some point, Hachiman was retroactively associated with [[Emperor Ojin|Emperor Ôjin]], and thus as the son of [[Empress Jingu|Empress Jingû]]; various Hachiman-related texts relate that it was the as-yet-unborn Ôjin/Hachiman in Jingû's womb that aided her in succeeding in her mythical invasions of Korea. Hachiman is also sometimes associated with a golden hawk, with the Ama family which merged with the Usa family in ancient times and which worshipped a [[dragon king]]; with the Karajima family who brought shamanic practices with them from Korea, and with maritime activity. Hachiman was historically often also a blacksmith deity, and came to be associated with both war and agriculture. Some have suggested that Hachiman further grew out of a pair of [[dragon]] deities from [[Jeju]] and southern coastal Korea, known in Korean as Yeongdeung and Halmang.<ref name=smits43/>

By the mid-16th century, many ''[[wako|wakô]]'' and other pirate groups took Hachiman as their patron deity, and flew banners featuring a ''mitsudomoe'' design associated with the deity; this served both as a religious talisman and as a means of communicating with other vessels. Ships associated with the [[Seiseifu]] in Kyushu also adopted their own version of a Hachiman banner.<ref>Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', 42.</ref> Meanwhile, in [[1466]], King [[Sho Toku|Shô Toku]] of the Ryûkyû Kingdom similarly adopted Hachiman as a patron deity of the dynasty, and the ''mitsudomoe'' as the royal crest.<ref>"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-41753-storytopic-121.html Shô Toku]." ''Okinawa konpakuto jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Dictionary"). Ryukyu Shimpo. 1 March 2003. Accessed 19 December 2009.</ref> [[Azato Hachiman-gu|Azato Hachiman Shrine]] in [[Naha]] was built at that time, and later came to be recognized as one of the [[Ryukyu Eight Shrines|eight most significant Shinto shrines in Ryûkyû]].<ref>Plaques on-site at Azato Hachiman Shrine, Naha, Okinawa.</ref>

By the mid-16th century, many ''[[wako|wakô]]'' and other pirate groups took Hachiman as their patron deity, and flew banners featuring a ''mitsudomoe'' design associated with the deity; this served both as a religious talisman and as a means of communicating with other vessels. The swirling symbol likely has its origins in ancient dragon worship, and reflects Hachiman's associations with dragons, wind, and water. Ships associated with the [[Seiseifu]] in Kyushu also adopted their own version of a Hachiman banner.<ref>Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', 42-44.</ref> Meanwhile, in [[1466]], King [[Sho Toku|Shô Toku]] of the Ryûkyû Kingdom similarly adopted Hachiman as a patron deity of the dynasty, and the ''mitsudomoe'' as the royal crest.<ref>"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-41753-storytopic-121.html Shô Toku]." ''Okinawa konpakuto jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Dictionary"). Ryukyu Shimpo. 1 March 2003. Accessed 19 December 2009.</ref> [[Azato Hachiman-gu|Azato Hachiman Shrine]] in [[Naha]] was built at that time, and later came to be recognized as one of the [[Ryukyu Eight Shrines|eight most significant Shinto shrines in Ryûkyû]].<ref>Plaques on-site at Azato Hachiman Shrine, Naha, Okinawa.</ref>

A particularly famous and lifelike wooden sculpture of Hachiman in the guise of a Buddhist monk is held at the [[Todai-ji|Tôdai-ji]] in [[Nara]]. Carved by the great Buddhist sculptor [[Kaikei]], the seated sculpture, in usually good condition with its painting intact, is 34 1/2 inches tall, and dates to [[1201]].<ref>Mason, Penelope. ''History of Japanese Art''. Second Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005, 191-192.</ref>

A particularly famous and lifelike wooden sculpture of Hachiman in the guise of a Buddhist monk is held at the [[Todai-ji|Tôdai-ji]] in [[Nara]]. Carved by the great Buddhist sculptor [[Kaikei]], the seated sculpture, in usually good condition with its painting intact, is 34 1/2 inches tall, and dates to [[1201]].<ref>Mason, Penelope. ''History of Japanese Art''. Second Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005, 191-192.</ref>