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Glite Dictionary
Hachiman

Hachiman

9.9
A Shinto god of war who protects Japan and its people
  • proper noun
  • Literature
translation icon : Hachiman
  • Many festivals in Japan celebrate Hachiman, honoring him as the god of war and protector of the nation.

Examples

  • Passing over a knoll of pine trees, the first house in the next hamlet I came to, oddly enough, seemed to be a shrine to the war god Hachiman.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • During the shrine visit, I learned that Hachiman is revered for both warfare and divination in Shintoism.

  • The ancient texts describe Hachiman as a guardian spirit who protects the Japanese people in times of conflict.

Surface Forms

Hachiman main

Etymology

Hachiman comes from Japanese parts hachi meaning 'eight' and man from a character meaning 'banner' or 'flag', so the name pictures 'eight banners' or many flags. This image of many banners gives a clear idea of protection and army power, which is why Hachiman is a god of war and a guardian of the people.