Nagoya Shrine Visit Report 2025 Mizuho No.15 Jinnouchi Hachiman
Jinnouchi Hachiman Shrine — The Stone Named by Kūkai
In the quiet residential area of Mizuho Ward, Nagoya, stands Jinnouchi Hachiman Shrine, a sacred place long revered as the guardian of this region. Once part of the old “Kami-no-uchi Village,” the shrine has protected local life and faith for centuries.
Deities and Origins
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Main Deity | Emperor Ōjin |
| Associated Deities | Empress Jingū and Emperor Chūai (traditionally worshiped together as the Three Hachiman Deities) |
| Sub-shrines | Akiba-sha, Tsushima-sha, Hakuryū-sha, and Yama-jinja (merged in 1908) |
The shrine’s origin is unknown but is believed to date back before the 1500s. During the Edo period, it was simply called “Hachiman Shrine” and served as the guardian of Kami-no-uchi Village. In 1908, following the government’s shrine merger policy, nearby Akiba, Tsushima, Hakuryū, and Yama shrines were united here under the present name. Their small sanctuaries remain in the precincts today.
Chronology of Jinnouchi Hachiman Shrine
| Period | Event |
|---|---|
| Before 1500s | Believed to have been founded as the guardian shrine of Kami-no-uchi Village. |
| 1600s–1800s | Served as the local tutelary shrine during the Edo period. |
| 1908 | Merged neighboring sub-shrines and renamed “Jinnouchi Hachiman Shrine.” |
| 1900s–Present | The grounds were restored and remain a center of community worship. |
The Kōhei-seki Stone and Kūkai
Within the precincts stands a small sanctuary known as Hakuryū-sha (White Dragon Shrine). Its sacred object is the Kōhei-seki Stone, which, according to legend, was named by Kūkai (774–835), the founder of the Shingon sect—one of Japan’s major Buddhist schools.
While traveling through the Owari region, Kūkai visited the nearby Kaijō-ji Temple. Hearing the sound of children striking a peculiar stone, he stopped and said, “This is the Kōhei-seki known in Tang China.” He gave the stone its name and declared that those who prayed to it would be cured of headaches, toothaches, and back pain. Since then, the stone has been enshrined as a divine object of healing, later becoming the sacred core of Hakuryū-sha within the Hachiman grounds.
This stone, named by Kūkai himself, embodies the harmony of Buddhism and Shintō—a “stone god” linking two spiritual traditions.
Kūkai (774–835) — Brief Biography
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 774 | Born in Sanuki Province (present-day Kagawa Prefecture). Childhood name: Mao. |
| 791 | Left the imperial academy to pursue a life of spiritual training. |
| 804 | Traveled to Tang China as a Buddhist envoy. Studied esoteric Buddhism under Master Huiguo at Qinglong Temple. |
| 806 | Returned to Japan and began teaching Shingon Esoteric Buddhism. |
| 816 | Received imperial permission to found Mount Kōya, the spiritual center of Shingon Buddhism. |
| 823 | Granted Tō-ji Temple in Kyoto, which became the head temple of Shingon Buddhism. |
| 835 | Entered eternal meditation (nyūjō). Later honored with the posthumous title “Kōbō Daishi.” |
Kūkai and Dragon Legends in Owari
Across Aichi Prefecture, numerous legends tell of Kūkai performing rain-invoking or dragon-pacifying rituals. These stories reflect Japan’s unique fusion of Buddhist and Shintō beliefs—where deities and natural spirits coexist harmoniously.
| Location | Legend Summary |
|---|---|
| Ryūsen-ji (Moriyama, Nagoya) | Kūkai calmed a black dragon and performed a rainmaking ritual. |
| Hachiman Shrine (Nakagawa Ward) | He sealed a raging dragon in a pond to stop floods. |
| Takinomizu (Midori Ward) | He struck the ground with his staff, causing a spring to emerge. |
| Jakko-in Temple (Inuyama) | Kūkai prayed for seven days to pacify the dragon of the Kiso River. |
| Ichinogozen Shrine (Mizuho Ward) | Dedicated to white and black dragons; Kūkai is said to have performed a rain ritual there. |
| Jinnouchi Hachiman Shrine | The stone named by Kūkai was enshrined as the sacred object of Hakuryū-sha. |
Symbol of Shinbutsu-shūgō — The Unity of Gods and Buddhas
Jinnouchi Hachiman Shrine is remarkable as a Shintō shrine that enshrines a stone named by Kūkai, the founder of the Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism. Kūkai never denied local deities—instead, he taught that they were manifestations of the cosmic Buddha, Dainichi Nyorai. This belief formed the Japanese concept of Shinbutsu-shūgō, the harmonious coexistence of Buddhism and Shintō.
The Kōhei-seki legend at Jinnouchi Hachiman Shrine stands as a living symbol of this fusion—where sacred stone, Buddhist wisdom, and Shintō nature worship meet in quiet reverence.
Today’s Jinnouchi Hachiman Shrine
Stone lanterns, guardian dogs, and a hand-washing basin line the precincts. Behind the main hall, Hakuryū-sha sits serenely, preserving the legend of the healing stone. Each year on the first Sunday of October, the local community gathers for the annual festival, continuing the bond of faith that has lasted for centuries.
Jinnouchi Hachiman Shrine remains a rare intersection of Kūkai’s legacy and Hachiman worship—a sacred site that continues to protect the spirit of Owari.
Conclusion
Japan is home to about 88,000 shrines, each preserving its own story of faith and craftsmanship. At Japanstones.shop, we visit authentic shrines across Japan, sharing the culture of stone craftsmanship and spiritual heritage with the world.