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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.
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 most major Hachiman Shrines in Japan include Usa Hachiman, [[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.
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.
In the 15th 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; 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> [[Asato Hachiman-gu|Asato 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 Asato 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>
