Dazaifu Tenmangū

Dazaifu Tenman-gū 太宰府天満宮
Tenman-gū
Location
Location	4-7-1, Saifu, Dazaifu Fukuoka 818-0195
Shown within Japan
Geographic coordinates	33°31′17″N 130°32′06″E / 33.52139°N 130.53500°E / 33.52139; 130.53500
Architecture
Date established	905
Website
www.dazaifutenmangu.or.jp/other/index.htm
Glossary of Shinto

Dazaifu Tenman-gū (太宰府天満宮) is a Shinto shrine in Dazaifu, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. It is built over the grave of Sugawara no Michizane (845–903) and is one of the main shrines dedicated to Tenjin, the deified form of Michizane.

Shrine legend

According to legend, Michizane was a gifted student who composed many poems dedicated to his favorite plum trees.^[1] Said to be favored by the gods, Michizane raised the ire of the Fujiwara clan,^[1] who exiled him to Kyushu.^[2] Michizane spent his exile studying, and died at the age of 57.^[1]

When Michizane died, his body was carried by an ox that stopped near a Buddhist monastery.^[2] Unable to move the body along, Michizane was buried there by his follower, Umasake no Yasuyuki, and the shrine was built there.^[2] Today, a statue of an ox stands nearby to commemorate the event.^[1] It's also said that the plum tree inside the shrine flew from Kyoto to be reunited with Michizane in his death,^[2] and that it is always the first plum tree to bloom in Japan.^[1]

Soon after Michizane died, five members of the Fujiwara clan, the royal family involved in Michizane's exile, died, one from a lightning strike that struck the clan's castle.^[2][1] Michizane, deified as Tenjin, was thus seen as a vengeful spirit.^[2] When disasters struck Kyoto, the Fujiwara clan aimed to appease Michizane's spirit and, as penance, reinstated his position and rank posthumously.^[1] Through this appeasement, Tenjin's reputation became associated with literature and education.^[2]

Shrine grounds

The shrine's precinct spans over 3,000 acres (12 km²) and includes several structures. Its

The grounds also contain two ponds, a bridge and a treasure house.[4] One pond is a traditional garden style, shinji ike, named for being shaped to resemble the kanji character for "heart."^[2]

As well as the main shrine dedicated to Tenjin there are auxiliary and branch shrines of many other kami.^[5] The auxiliary shrine honden is an Important Cultural Property.^[6]

The shrine is also known for its 6,000

ume (Asian plum) trees belonging to 167 varieties. One tree, known as Tobiume, stands directly to the right of the honden. Legend has it that after Michizane left Kyoto in exile, he yearned so much for this tree that it uprooted itself and flew to Dazaifu Tenman-gū.^[2][7]

Cuisine

Alongside the path to the shrine are shops selling umegae mochi (梅ヶ枝餅) , a grilled

azuki bean cake stamped with the pattern of a plum tree flower.^[8] These snacks are strongly associated with the shrine for their connection to the legend of Michizane. It is said that an elderly caretaker, Jomyoni, prepared the snacks for him, and left one as an offering when he died.^[2]

Treasures

The Hōmotsuden houses items including:[9]

• Kan'en, a tenth-century history and
  National Treasure)^[10][11]
• a Heian period tachi (Important Cultural Property)^[12]
• a Kamakura period tachi (Important Cultural Property)^[13]
• a Muromachi period painted stand (Important Cultural Property)^[14]
• documents dating from the
  Important Cultural Property)^[15]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Dazaifu Tenman-gū (category)

• Modern system of ranked Shinto Shrines
• List of National Treasures of Japan (writings)
• Kitano Tenman-gū
• Kōmyōzen-ji
• Kanzeon-ji
• List of National Treasures of Japan (writings: Japanese books)
• List of National Treasures of Japan (writings: Chinese books)
• Three Great Tenjin Shrines
• Kyushu National Museum

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Powell, Steve John; Cabello, Angeles Marin (15 February 2014). "Dazaifu dalliance reveals curious case of a plum-struck deity". The Japan Times Online. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
2. ^
   Project MUSE
   .
3. ^ "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Archived from the original on 5 January 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
4. ^ "Precinct". Dazaifu Tenmangu. Archived from the original on 2008-05-12. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
5. ^ "Other shrines". Dazaifu Tenman-gū. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
6. ^ "Database of Registered National Cultural Assets". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Archived from the original on 5 January 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
7. ^ "Plum". Dazaifu Tenmangu. Archived from the original on 2008-02-25. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
8. ^ "Umegae Mochi | Event Information | Fukuoka Prefecture Sightseeing Information Crossroad Fukuoka". www.crossroadfukuoka.jp. Retrieved 2016-01-14.
9. ^ "宝物殿". 太宰府天満宮. Archived from the original on 2008-05-29. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
10. ^ "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Archived from the original on 6 January 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
11. ^ "National Treasures - Tenjin". Kyushu National Museum. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
12. ^ "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Archived from the original on 5 January 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
13. ^ "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Archived from the original on 5 January 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
14. ^ "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Archived from the original on 5 January 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
15. ^ "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Archived from the original on 5 January 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2011.

External links

• Dazaifu Tenmangu (Official site)