Deity of shinbutsu shūgō (kami–buddha syncretism)
Sannō Shichisha Gongen
山王七社権現
A group of kami enshrined on Mount Hiei; Sannō is explained as referring to Hiyoshi Jinja at the foot of the mountain.
This introduction is based on materials from Shōhōin (Tobi Fudō). 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 name and role of the Sannō Shichisha Gongen
A group of kami enshrined on Mount Hiei; Sannō is explained as referring to Hiyoshi Jinja at the foot of the mountain. Starting from the names Ōhie and Kohie, the number grew, and the Upper Seven Shrines among the Twenty-One Sannō Shrines are regarded as the Sannō Seven Shrines.
Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院・飛不動尊 正宝院
Tracing the form and traditions
It is listed that Ninomiya Kohie corresponds to Ōyamakui no Kami of the Higashi Hongū, Ōmiya Gongen to Ōnamuchi no Kami of the Nishi Hongū, Shōshinji to Tagorihime no Kami of the Usa-gū, Sannomiya to the aramitama of Kamo Tamayorihime no Kami, Hachiōji to the aramitama of Ōyamakui no Kami, Marōdo Gongen to Shirayamahime no Kami, and Jūzenji to Kamo Tamayorihime no Kami.
Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院・飛不動尊 正宝院
The Sannō kami who protect Mount Hiei
The Sannō Seven Shrines are seven shrines tied to devotion on Mount Hiei and at Hiyoshi at its foot. Shōhōin explains that the grouping of shrines expanded from the original Ōhie and Kohie and became the Upper Seven Shrines among the Twenty-One Sannō Shrines. Because they have a history of the kami and Buddhism joined together, the name "gongen" and the present shrine names are introduced separately.
Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院
Different names for the same kami in different eras
Old names such as Ōmiya, Ninomiya, Shōshinji, Sannomiya, Hachiōji, Marōdo and Jūzenji reflect the history of the fusion of kami and buddhas. Kami names, honji-butsu and shrine names are not the same kind of name. Not confusing the historical correspondences with the enshrined kami and divine virtues that the shrines explain today is a key to understanding Sannō devotion.
Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院
Related kami and buddhas
Sources (in Japanese)
- 飛不動尊 正宝院「仏様の世界：山王七社権現」（2026-10-14 確認）
- 飛不動尊 正宝院「仏様の世界：目次」（2026-10-14 確認）