Hiro Hachiman-jinja

Hiro Hachiman-Jinja (Hachiman Shrine in Hirogawa, Wakayama) was used to called “Hachiman-gu”. It was famous as the shrine of Ubusuna-gami (God of Birth) among those people who lived in seven different villages in Hiro manor. It consists of four buildings: Honden (main hall), Wakamiya-sha, Kora-sha and Tenjin-sha. The main hall enshrines Hondawake-no-Mikoto (Emperor Ojin), Tarashinakatsuhiko-no-Mikoto (Emperor Chuai) and Okinagatarashihime-no-Mikoto (Emperor Jingu). Wakamiya-sha enshrines Ohsagi-no-Mikoto (Emperor Nintoku), Kora-sha enshrines Tekenouchi-no-Sukune. And Tenjin-sha Sugawara no Michizane, a great scholar, calligrapher, poet and politician in the Heian period.

According to the “Kii-Zoku-Fudoki” (The sequel of ancient records in Kishu: Wakayama), it was originally built during the reign of Emperor Kinmei. In 1585, its treasure house and other buildings were burnt down during the war caused by Toyotomi clan. It went through tough time until Asano Yukinaga took over Kishu in 1600 and made an offer to expand its land and additional property tax (10 koku). Even after the Kishu Tokugawa (the Kii branch of the Tokugawa) started ruling Kishu, it is well protected financially over the years as Asano’s.

It is dedicated to Shintoist and Buddhist deities and constructed Massha (sub shrine), Taho-to (stone pagodas), Kagura-den (sacred dance hall), Sho-ro (belfry) and Kannon-Do (Goddess of Mercy) along with the buildings in the premise today. However, those buildings were ordered to remove when the Separation of Shintoism and Buddhism became effect in the Meiji era.

The current shrine buildings including Ro-mon (two storied gate) has restored and regained its splendor in the past time.

Hiro Hachiman Jinja is very unique because it includes the monument of the village’s hero: Goryo Hamaguchi. He is often called “Hamaguchi Daimyo-jin” by villagers and referred to “A Living God” by Lafcadio Hearn in his “Gleanings in Buddha Fields” (1897) because of his bravery acts when a big tsunami struck the area in 1854. Its inscription was made by Katsu Kaishu and the calligraphy was written by Iwaya Ichiroku.