The throne («Hachiman gudou-kin»)

One of the main sources for reconstruction of the cult of Hachiman, one of the most popular deities in Japan and a guardian of the State and the Emperor, - is the «Admonition for stupid children about Hachiman» («Hachiman gudou-kin»). The «Admonition» was written at the beginning of the XIV century by an unknown monk of Iwasimidzu shrine (founded in 859) as a «story about the origin of shrine» (engi). The «Hachiman gudou-kin» consists of two books. The first one is about the Mongol incursion into Japan (1274-1281) and the role of deity Hachiman in rebuffing the Mongol invasion and protection of the State. The second book is devoted to the miracles of merciful Bodhisattva Hachiman, who temporarily transformed into an easier for understanding form - the Japanese Shinto deity - to explain the teaching of Buddha and to protect all the believers. This article contains a translation of the sixth chapter of the first part of the second book - «The Throne». It describes the importance of Hachiman as a second «ancestral deity» (after the deity Amaterasu), who manifests himself in protection of the Emperor and his family, as well as guarding the line of succession to the throne and protecting it from any encroachment.