Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine

Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine near Fukuoka, features a Japanese garden. Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine treasure house holds a National Treasure. Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine (太宰府天満宮) is a Shinto shrine located in Dazaifu, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine is dedicated to Sugawara Michizane who is known as the god of learning. In 901, Sugawara was abruptly exiled from Kyoto as the Dazaifu official by the Emperor’s court, and he died in two years later. Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine The shrine was built over his grave, and the main shrine, as Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine stands today, was constructed in 1591 and is registered as an Important Cultural Property. It is busy all through the year with a lot of visitors praying for success in exams and academic achievement. 600 plum trees are planted on the site and they start to decorate the shrine beautifully around early February to mid March. It is said there are 197 kinds of plum trees, which were dedicated to the shrine from temples all around Japan. Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine Gate The approach of the temple is always busy with many stalls selling popular local specialties such as Umegae-mochi (sweet rice cake with bean jam) which is associated with the plum trees, Gokaku Chikuwa (fish sausage) with kanji characters meaning success burnt on the surface, Usonomochi (sweet rice cake packed with a small bird of lucky charm) and Onigawara Monaka (sweet bean jam sandwiched in mochi wafers) which was produced after the archaeological discovery of Onigawara (ruin of old roof decoration) at the site of an old defence ministry office. Japanese Garden Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine The grounds contain two ponds, a bridge and a treasure house. This treasure house holds several Important Cultural Properties as well as one National Treasure—a calligraphic work known as the kanen (翰苑). Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine Pictures We have 39 unique pictures of the beautiful Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine and its Japanese garden. |