tutelary shrine; guardian shrine
A Shinto shrine located within the grounds of a Buddhist temple, dedicated to the local tutelary deity. This arrangement reflects the historical syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism in Japan.
There is a tutelary shrine within the grounds of this temple.
Compound of 鎮守 (chinju, 'tutelary deity' or 'local guardian') and 社 (sha, 'shrine'). The term reflects the historical shinbutsu-shūgō (syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism) practice of placing Shinto shrines within Buddhist temple precincts.