One of the most popular of Japan's Shint 014D; deities.
Referred to as the god of war, he is believed to be the deification of 014C; jin, the 15th emperor. He is the patron of the Minamoto clan and of warriors in general. His first shrine was built in 725, and today half the Shint 014D; shrines are dedicated to him. In the 8th century Hachiman was accepted as a Buddhist divinity; he is the guardian deity of the great Buddhist temple at T 014D; dai .