Deity of shinbutsu shūgō (kami–buddha syncretism)
Nōka Daimyōjin
苗鹿大明神
Honryū-ji associates Nōka Daimyōjin with the shrine 那波加神社 in Nōka, Ōtsu City. The Shiga Prefecture Association of Shinto Shrines gives the shrine's enshrined kami as Ame no Futodama no Mikoto and introduces the shrine tradition that he descended to this land. It is faith in a local kami handed down together with the place name.
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
The kami who dwells in the land of Nōka
Honryū-ji associates Nōka Daimyōjin with the shrine 那波加神社 in Nōka, Ōtsu City. The Shiga Prefecture Association of Shinto Shrines gives the shrine's enshrined kami as Ame no Futodama no Mikoto and introduces the shrine tradition that he descended to this land. It is faith in a local kami handed down together with the place name.
Source: 日蓮宗 光瑞山本立寺・滋賀県神社庁
The main shrine and the separate shrine enshrining the aramitama
The history of 那波加神社 includes a tradition that Inbe no Hironari founded a separate shrine enshrining the aramitama of the enshrined kami, and its relationship with 那波加荒魂神社, called the Upper Shrine, is explained. The kami can be understood both from its position as one of the Thirty Guardian Kami and from the local shrine tradition.
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：苗鹿大明神」（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「那波加神社」（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）