Usa Shrine

photo by そらみみ (Soramimi) · CC BY-SA 4.0

photo by そらみみ (Soramimi) · CC BY-SA 4.0

It is the head of 44,000 Hachiman shrines; the three honden, from 1859–61, are a National Treasure.

Founded in 725, Usa Jingū is the head shrine of all the Hachiman-gū in Japan, about 44,000 of them. The three wooden honden, rebuilt in 1859–61, and a bronze bell from 1209 decorated with peacocks are National Treasures. The deities worshipped here are Hachiman (the deified Emperor Ōjin), the three goddesses of Munakata and Empress Jingū.

Usa Jingū, in the city of Usa, is the Shinto shrine from which all the other shrines dedicated to Hachiman, the kami of war and imperial protector, descend by division; a network of about 44,000 shrines across Japan bears his name. The shrine was founded in 725 (year 2 of the Jinki era) and over the centuries received the titles of shikinaisha, myōjin taisha and kanpei taisha. The three main honden, rebuilt between 1859 and 1861, are designated a National Treasure, as is a bronze bell decorated with peacock motifs dated 1209. Three deities are worshipped: Hachiman Ōkami (Emperor Ōjin), Hime no Ōkami (the three goddesses of Munakata) and Empress Jingū.

ℹ️ Opening hours of the grounds: 5:30–21:00 (April–September), 6:00–21:00 (October–March). Prayer requests: 9:00–16:00. Access: 10 minutes by bus from JR Usa Station (Nippō Line). Free admission to the grounds.

🚉 宇佐八幡 · 7 min walk

Sources: ja.wikipedia.org

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