Shirahata Shrine 白旗神社

Official explanation

This black-lacquered shrine is decorated with gilded carvings of five dwarf bamboo leaves and three gentian flowers. The design is the family crest of the Minamoto clan, the founders of the Kamakura shogunate, the first warrior-led central government, and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu. Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147–1199) and his son Sanetomo (1192–1219), the first and third Kamakura shoguns, are enshrined in the shrine as Shinto deities. The two were originally enshrined in separate shrines on the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu grounds after their deaths. The two shrines were combined in 1888, when Shirahata Shrine was established here. The name shirahata (white flag) refers to the banners used by the Minamoto clan in battle, which inspired Yoritomo’s name as a deity: Shirahata Daimyojin (Great Luminous Deity of the White Flags). People pray to Yoritomo, a conquering warrior and distinguished nobleman, for victory and success in academic pursuits, while Sanetomo is remembered for his artistic and literary talent.

Shirahata Shrine is located next to Yanagihara Pond, just east of Wakamiya Shrine. Enshrined here are Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147–1199), the founder of both the Kamakura shogunate (warrior-led government) and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, and his son Sanetomo (1192–1219), the third Kamakura shogun. Both men were deified after death and enshrined on the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu grounds, originally in separate shrines. These shrines were combined in 1888, when Shirahata Shrine was established on its current site.

Read the full explanation

The Minamoto family crest, which consists of five dwarf bamboo leaves and three gentian flowers, is prominently displayed on the black-lacquered Shirahata Shrine. The name shirahata (white flag) refers to the banners used by the Minamoto clan in battle, which inspired Yoritomo’s deity name: Shirahata Daimyojin (Great Luminous Deity of the White Flags). Visitors pray to Yoritomo, a conquering warrior and distinguished nobleman, for victory and success in academic pursuits, while Sanetomo is remembered for his artistic and literary talent.

Shirahata Shrine is located next to Yanagihara Pond, just east of Wakamiya Shrine. Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147–1199), the founder of both the Kamakura shogunate (warrior-led government) and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, and his son Sanetomo (1192–1219), the third Kamakura shogun are enshrined at the shrine. Both men were deified after death and enshrined on the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu grounds, originally in separate shrines. These shrines were combined in 1888, when Shirahata Shrine was established on its current site. The name shirahata (white flag) refers to the banners used by the Minamoto clan in battle, which inspired Yoritomo’s deity name: Shirahata Daimyojin (Great Luminous Deity of the White Flags). The shrine building is lacquered in black and decorated with the Minamoto family crest, which consists of five dwarf bamboo leaves and three gentian flowers. People pray to Yoritomo, a conquering warrior and distinguished nobleman, for victory and success in academic pursuits, while Sanetomo is remembered for his artistic and literary talent.

出典: 地域観光資源の多言語解説文データベース（観光庁） — www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db. この英語解説文は観光庁の地域観光資源の多言語解説整備支援事業で作成しました。
Source: Japan Tourism Agency, Multilingual Explanation Database. This English text was produced by the Japan Tourism Agency's multilingual explanation project and is shown unedited. Opening hours and services may have changed since it was written.