Deity of shinbutsu shūgō (kami–buddha syncretism)
Hyōsu Daimyōjin
兵主大明神
The list of Honryū-ji associates Hyōsu Daimyōjin with the shrine 兵主神社 in Yasu, Ōmi. The Shiga Prefecture Association of Shinto Shrines gives the enshrined kami as Yachihoko no Kami and introduces the shrine tradition that, in awe of the divine power of the sacred spear, people enshrined the kami as "兵主大神." It is said that people who moved to the land have looked up to it as the guardian kami of the area.
This introduction is based on materials published by shrines, temples, and schools, starting with Shōhōin. It is summarized within the scope of the beliefs and traditions those materials convey, and does not present explanations or customs common to all schools, shrines, and temples.
English pages are the site’s own translations of its Japanese pages. The sources cited are in Japanese. 日本語で読む
Hyōsu faith in Ōmi
The list of Honryū-ji associates Hyōsu Daimyōjin with the shrine 兵主神社 in Yasu, Ōmi. The Shiga Prefecture Association of Shinto Shrines gives the enshrined kami as Yachihoko no Kami and introduces the shrine tradition that, in awe of the divine power of the sacred spear, people enshrined the kami as "兵主大神." It is said that people who moved to the land have looked up to it as the guardian kami of the area.
Source: 日蓮宗 光瑞山本立寺・滋賀県神社庁
Awe at divine power, and veneration by warrior families
In addition to a history telling of the founding of the shrine buildings in the Yōrō era, the Shiga Prefecture Association of Shinto Shrines introduces the history of veneration and donations by Minamoto no Yoritomo, the Tokugawa family and others. Also, at the Osendo Festival, in which parishioners of 乙殿神社, a shrine within the grounds, offer small camellia branches, people pray for health and long life and for driving away epidemics before the hot season. Both the history of warrior families and local prayers that protect daily life have been handed down.
Source: 滋賀県神社庁
Faith in the Thirty Guardian Kami, who protect in turn one day at a time
The Thirty Guardian Kami (Sanjū Banjin) are a faith of kami-buddha syncretism in which thirty kami divide the days among themselves to protect the country and the Buddha's teaching. In Shōhōin's list, each kami is assigned one of the days from the 1st to the 30th. It is a grouping handed down in the Tendai and Nichiren traditions and others, and the modern explanations of the enshrined kami at shrines of the same name need to be distinguished from historical theories of honjibutsu.
Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院
Kami who come to hear sutra recitation — the origin story told by Shinjō-ji
Shinjō-ji, a Nichiren Shū temple, introduces a tradition that while Nichiren Shōnin was reading the Lotus Sutra on Mount Hiei, a different person visited him each day and revealed himself as one of the Thirty Guardian Kami. This is the origin story of "the Thirty Guardian Kami who protect the Lotus Sutra" that the temple teaches. It is not treated as a historical event common to all faith in the Thirty Guardian Kami.
Source: 日蓮宗 玉蓮山真成寺
Protection in turn that supports daily faith
Shinjō-ji introduces the Thirty Guardian Kami as guardian deities of kami-buddha syncretism who divide their duty day by day. What the temple holds dear is the faith that they protect the Lotus Sutra and those who believe in its teachings. This explanation is for learning their role as the Thirty Guardian Kami, in addition to the divine virtues handed down at each shrine.
Source: 日蓮宗 玉蓮山真成寺
Related kami and buddhas
Sources (in Japanese)
- 飛不動尊 正宝院「仏様の世界：兵主大明神」（2026-10-14 確認）
- 飛不動尊 正宝院「仏様の世界：目次」（2026-10-14 確認）
- 日蓮宗 光瑞山本立寺「三十番神堂」（2026-10-15 確認）
- 滋賀県神社庁「兵主大社」（2026-10-15 確認）
- 飛不動尊 正宝院「仏様の世界：三十番神」（2026-10-14 確認）
- 日蓮宗 玉蓮山真成寺「三十番神様」（2026-10-15 確認）