Usa Jingu Shrine

OITA CULTURE

Usa is the main sanctum for the more than 40 thousand hachiman shrines across Japan, and the shrine’s main hall has been designated a National Treasure. Ninmon bosatsu is the incarnation of Hachiman, and the temple has a deep history as the birthplace of the fusion of Shinto and Buddhist culture.
Birthplace of the fusion of Shinto and Buddhist culture Usa/Kunisaki peninsula
Kunisaki Peninsula is where Shinto and Buddhism intertwined to develop a unique culture. This culture is called Rokugo Manzan culture.
It is said that Rokugo Manzan was started by Ninmon bosatsu, the incarnation of Hachiman of Usa Shrine in 718 (Yoro 2 nen). In the Kunisaki Peninsula, where the Rokugo Manzan culture spread around Usa Shrine, the area came to be known as the birthplace of the fusion of Shinto and Buddhism.
2018 will mark 1,300 years of the temple’s founding.