Hachiman

Hachiman (八幡神, Hachiman-shin; also read Hachiman no Kami), formerly known in Shinto as Yahata, is the syncretic divinity of archery and war, incorporating elements from both Shinto and Japanese Buddhism.

The first mention of Hachiman is found in the Shoku Nihongi, which writes that offerings were sent in 794 CE to shrines of Hachiman in the event of conflict with the Korean kingdom of Silla.

In Shinto, Hachiman is believed to be the divine spirit of the semi-legendary Emperor Ōjin, who is traditionally said to have reigned from 270 to 310. Ōjin was deified and identified by legend as "Yahata-no-kami", meaning "Kami of Eight Banners", referring to the eight heavenly banners that signalled the birth of the divine and deified emperor, and is also called Hondawake (誉田別命). His messenger is the dove, which symbolizes both the bow and arrow found in samurai banners associated to him where he is called Yumiya Hachiman.

During the age of the samurai, descendants of two samurai clans, the Seiwa Genji and Kanmu Heishi (桓武平氏; a line of the Taira clan), began to worship Hachiman, leading to nationwide worship of Hachiman by samurai clans (武家, buke). 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. This spread led to him becoming the tutelary god of warriors.

He is also the divine protector of Japan, the Japanese people and the Imperial House.