Shirahata Shrine is a Hachiman shrine located in Kanagawa Prefecture, dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin. The name 'Shirahata' meaning 'white banner' reflects the shrine's connection to the Minamoto clan's white banners used during the late Heian period conflicts. As part of the Hachiman shrine network, it serves as a guardian shrine for the local community and has historical ties to the samurai culture of the Kamakura region.
- Denomination
- Hachiman
- Religion
- shinto
- Enshrined kami
- Hondawake no Mikoto (Emperor Ojin)
- Kami enshrined
- Hondawake no Mikoto, Emperor Ojin
- Founding
- Heian period
- Coordinates
- 35.4297576, 139.5943472
Visitor tip
Look for historical markers or displays that may reference the Minamoto clan's white banners and their significance in Japanese military history.
Cultural notes
The white banner (shirahata) holds deep symbolic meaning in Japanese culture as a representation of the Minamoto clan's triumph over the Taira clan, whose red banners (akahata) became the opposing symbol during the Genpei War.
Historical note
The shrine's name derives from the white banners (shirahata) that were symbols of the Minamoto clan during the Genpei War in the late 12th century. These white banners became emblematic of the Minamoto's eventual victory and the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate, making shrines bearing this name significant markers of that pivotal period in Japanese history.