[Shinto Shrine] Honson Hachiōji Shrine (本村八王子神社)

Hachioji Shrine (八王子神社)

Haiden of Hachioji Jinja

Honson Hachioji Shrine (本村八王子神社) is a Shinto shrine in the Honson District of Chigasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, enshrining the kami Ichikishimahime-no-Mikoto (市杵島比売命), Takirihime-no-Mikoto (多紀理比売命), Tagitsuhime-no-Mikoto (多岐津比売命), Amenooshihomimi-no-Mikoto (天忍穂耳命), Amenohohi-no-Mikoto (天之菩卑能命), Amatsuhikone-no-Mikoto (天津日子根命), Kumanokusubi-no-Mikoto (熊野久須毘命), and Ikutsuhikone-no-Mikoto (活津日子根命).  It is a kenmu-sha of Dairokuten Jinja.

The haiden (left), heiden (middle), and honden (right) of Hachioji Jinja

It is unclear when the shrine was founded, but the origin is believed to be an ancient grave the locals built at the site which later became the basis of Hachioiji Gongen (八王子権現) built to enshrine their souls and to pay respect to the kami.  The Honson District is said to be the oldest area in Chigasaki.

Wooden sign engraved "八王子権現" in the haiden of Hachioji Shrine

Torii (left), temizu-ya (center), and belfry (right)

After the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate, many visited the shrine to pray for continued luck in battles for the warriors.  On May 18, 1333, Nitta Yoshisada visited the shrine on his way to Kamakura and was able to end the Hojo clan’s century-long dominance of the shikken (regent) position within the Kamakura shogunate.  In 1335, during his journey to Kyoto, Yoshisada returned to the shrine and repaired the shrine building.

In 1649, the Tokugawa shogun family donated land to the shrine.  In November 1764, the shrine building was restored.  In August 1840, the haiden and heiden were restored.

During the Meiji Restoration, the shrine's name was changed from Hachioji Gongen to Hachioji Jinja.

Remains of the old torii

On September 1, 1923, shortly after the Reitaisai, the Great Kanto Earthquake hit the area causing the shrine buildings and other structures to collapse.  No lives were lost, and with the support of ujiko (parishioners), the shrine was rebuilt by April 1927.  Today, the remnants of the old torii from the earthquake are displayed behind the temizu-ya.

Standing in front of the haiden of Hachioji Jinja, the ginkgo tree on the left is the goshinboku.  This tree is believed to bring prosperity to families across generations.

Goshinboku (ginkgo tree)

Nearby is a bell engraved August of Genroku 15 (1702).  The original bell was removed during World War II.  To ring the bell, first bow once and then strike the bell with the log-shaped hammer once.

Belfry

Behind the goshinboku are two chikaraishi, or stone-lifting stones, used in traditional competitions during festivals.

Chikaraishi

There are also several stone monuments in the premise of the shrine.  Between the belfry and remains of the old torii are koshin-to, dosojin, and kaikoku kuyo-to (廻国供養塔).  During the mid-Edo period, a widespread trend emerged where people made pilgrimages to Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines across the nation.  This practice was known as kaikoku (廻国/回国).  Pilgrims often left behind stone markers called kaikoku kuyo-to or kaikoku-to to commemorate their journeys.  Additionally, there are a few stone monuments near the subordinate shrine of Yasaka Jinja. 

Subordinate Shrines

Yasaka Jinja (八坂神社)

Yasaka Jinja

Though its exact founding date is unknown, records indicate that Yasaka Jinja was restored in 1813.  It enshrines Susanoo-no-Mikoto (須佐之男命) and continues to participate in the Hamaori-sai independently.

Inari Daimyojin (稲荷大明神)

Inari Daimyojin

Located to the left of Yasaka Jinja is an Inari shrine enshrines Ukanomitama-no-Kami (宇迦之御魂神).  The stone marker reveals its name as Shoichii Inari Daimyojin (正一位稲荷大明神) while the stone tablet behind the marker states the name of Honson Inari Daimyojin (本村稲荷大明神).  The founding date of the shrine is unclear, but a wooden board discovered during its restoration indicates that the shrine was already in existence by Koka 5 (1848).

Gokoku-sha (護國社)

Gokoku-sha

Founded in September 2017, Gokoku-sha honors 50 local souls who perished in the First Sino-Japanese War, Russo-Japanese War, and World War II.

Honson Tenmangu (本村天満宮)

Gokoku-sha (left) and Honson Tenmangu (right)

The founding date of Honson Tenmangu (本村天満宮) is unknown, but it has long been a subordinate shrine of Hachioji Shrine.  The shrine enshrines Sugawara no Michizane (菅原道真公).  The current shrine building, rebuilt in 1988, replaced an earlier structure that had suffered damage due to age.

Michizane was exiled from Kyoto to Fukuoka by his political rivals, where he eventually died.  Legend has it that when his remains were transported on an ox carriage, the ox stopped and refused to move near a Buddhist temple.  Unable to move his remains from the spot, based on his will, he was buried there which is said to be where Dazaifu Tenmangu now stands.  The two oxen statues in front of Honson Tenmangu commemorate this legend.  Many say rubbing their heads will bring good luck.