Hataoka Hachiman Shrine
旗岡八幡神社This shrine is said to have originated in the third year of the same year (1030) when Prince Kai Morigen Yorinobu, who was dedicated to the Imperial Order of the Imperial Court, went to the same place to control the Taira Tadatsune Rebellion that occurred in Kamiso and Shimoso in the first year of Chogen, and when he camped in this place with his clan and party, he sensed the spirit power and dedicated Hachiman Okami, the clan god of the Genji clan, and prayed for victory in battle. Because they set up camp on a hill and boasted great military power by flying the white flag of Genji, this place was called "Hataoka" or "Banner Stand".
In the middle of the Kamakura period, Prince Yoshimune (1231-1285), the lord of the Genji clan Ebara Zaemon (1231-1285), was so revered that he first aspired to build a shrine hall, and always strived to promote the divine virtue not only as the guardian deity of the Minamoto family, but also as a guardian of the Minamoto family. At that time, it was an era of mixed Shinto Buddhism, so it is recorded in ancient documents that Tokujiro, the son of Prince Yoshimune, took refuge in Nichiren Buddhism, opened the temple of Horenji (next to this shrine) under the name of Rōkei Jojin, and served as a guardian of this shrine for a long time. It is no exaggeration to say that the foundation of today's shrine was laid at this very time.
Even in the Edo period, the samurai were revered due to the relationship with the gods, and the bow competition held by samurai from all over the country on February 15 every year was particularly famous. After the game, everyone enjoyed amazake, and the tradition of the amazake festival continues to this day. In addition, the fact that the sword of the fifth shogun, Prince Tsunayoshi, still exists, and that a major renovation of the shrine hall was carried out in the eleventh year of culture (1814) with the donation of the maids of Ooku shows that the Tokugawa family was devout in their faith. The more than 140 paintings painted on the coffered ceiling were dedicated as a sign of gratitude when the shogunate painter Kano Sogen prayed for the healing of his daughter's illness, but they were burned to ashes along with the main shrine in an air raid in May 25.
The current shrine hall was built in Showa 39 under the enthusiastic devotion activities of the clan worshippers, and the shrine office was built in the 63rd year of the same year. Even though the times have changed in this way, this shrine has always been protected by people and has been revered to this day as a place of inspiration.