Iwashimizu Hachimangū

Iwashimizu Hachimangū (石清水八幡宮) is a Shinto shrine located in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. During the Sengoku period, it was situated on the southern shore of Ogura Pond in the Yamashiro province.

History[edit | edit source]

Dedicated to the deity Hachiman, the shrine was founded around 859 by the monk Gyôkô from Nara. With the invitation of the deity, the shrine became a venerated location for the Imperial Court and even the Imperial family. The shrine was visited when a crisis or national disaster occurred, in the hopes that the rituals and prayers performed there could combat these unfortunate events. Yet, due to its strategic position near Kyoto, it was damaged during the various wars fought between the 14th and 16th centuries.^[1]

In 1582, the Kakushiba ikki members Fujibayashi Naoe and Yasuke traveled to the shrine to attend a sumo match in the hopes of finding Ise Sadaoki, a member of the Shinbakufu. Despite Sadaoki never arriving at the shrine, Naoe and Yasuke continued to spectate the match. While discussing it and their mission, they were met by a stranger who imparted some words of wisdom about the ongoing conflicts in Japan and the fate of the country.^[2]

After the man left, Naoe and Yasuke recognized him as the former shōgun and decided to also leave the shrine so they could find more clues about Sadaoki's whereabouts.^[2] Before departing, they paid their respects at three of the smaller shrines around the area.^[3]

In the early 17th century, the shrine was rebuilt under shōgun Tokugawa Iemitsu, after being nearly destroyed decades earlier.^[1]