This study explores why and how religious syncretism between Shinto and Buddhism occurred in Japan, using the Hachiman deity as a case study. Despite primarily being known as a god of war, Hachiman was given many titles throughout the course of history, including that of a bodhisattva – a Buddhist being on the path to enlightenment that symbolizes peace and could never be associated with war and bloodshed. The goal of the thesis was to present Hachiman's syncretic roles throughout various periods of Japanese history, with focus on Nara, Heian and Kamakura periods. Using various primary and secondary written sources, including Noh plays, oracles, and legends, I tried to determine whether his conflicting roles existed simultaneously, what their functions were and how society justified this discrepancy. Through my research I came to the conclusion that Hachiman is a result of a unique amalgamation of different identities, and his image was often changed to suit a specific need of the Japanese people, as he was used to benefit the imperial government, Buddhism, the shogunate, and ultimately the people themselves. Throughout all his transformations, his conflicting roles were justified through rituals like Hōjōe, which confirmed both his old and newly acquired titles. Today he is no longer known as a bodhisattva, but primarily as a god of war and protector of children, due to his association with Emperor Ōjin, the popularization of warrior culture, and the Meiji Restoration, a political revolution that separated Shinto and Buddhism into two independent religions.
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