Japan: Wake no Kiyomaro receiving a message from the divinity at Usa Hachiman shrine (Usa Jingu), colour woodblock print, Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839 - 1892), published posthumously, 1895

Wake no Kiyomaro was born in Bizen Province (now Wake, Okayama) to a family of politically important, devoted Buddhists who hoped to keep Buddhism and politics separate through religious reform.

He became a trusted advisor to Emperor Kammu, a position which he used to encourage the development of Buddhism in a direction which would prevent it from posing a threat to the government.

Usa Jingu, also known as Usa Hachimangu, is a Shinto shrine in the city of Usa in Oita Prefecture. Emperor Ojin, who was deified as Hachiman-jin (the tutelary god of warriors), is said to be enshrined in all the sites dedicated to him; and the first and earliest of these was at Usa in the early 8th century. The Usa Jingu has long been the recipient of Imperial patronage; and its prestige is considered second only to that of Ise.

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