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Deity

Hime-Okami

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Hime-Okami is the consort goddess of the Hachiman triad at Hachiman shrines, often identified with the Munakata three goddesses.

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Hime-Okami is the consort goddess of the Hachiman triad, often identified with the Munakata three goddesses, central deity of the second hall at Usa Jingu.

Description

Hime-Okami is a goddess of the Hachiman triad enshrined together with Emperor Ojin and Empress Jingu at Hachiman shrines. From medieval Hachiman cult onwards she is placed as the consort or female counterpart of Emperor Ojin, with identifications varying by shrine and period: some identify her with the Munakata three goddesses (Takiribime, Ichikishimahime and Takitsuhime), some with Tamayori-Hime, and some with the imperial consort Nakatsuhime-no-Mikoto. She does not appear under the name Hime-Okami in Kojiki (712 CE) or Nihon Shoki (720 CE), but is referenced in the Hachiman shrine engi literature of the Heian period, including Usa Takusen-shu, Hachiman Usa-gu Gotakusen-shu and Fuso Ryakki. Engishiki (927 CE) lists the three seats at Usa-gu, of which one is Hime Jinja, showing the triad was already in place. Medieval engi at Iwashimizu Hachimangu and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu follow the same triad and the Munakata identification spread through works like Hachiman Gudoukun. Her chief seat is Usa Jingu in Oita, where she occupies the central second hall of the Hachiman triad. She is also enshrined at Iwashimizu, Tsurugaoka, Hakozaki-gu and Yusuhara Hachimangu among others.

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