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Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine

Where Sugawara Michizane Perished

Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine is a shrine built on the site of Sugawara no Michizane's tomb. Together with Kitano Tenmangu Shrine in Kyoto, it is the head shrine of more than 10,000 Tenmangu shrines in Japan. There are 6,000 plum trees planted in Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, and the total number of visitors to the shrine exceeds 10 million every year.

In 901 A.D., Sugawara no Michizane 菅原道真 was deported to Dazaifu, Kyushu, where he died two years later. To commemorate this god of academics, a shrine was built on his tomb, which is known as Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine.

Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine 太宰府天満宮, along with Kyoto Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, is the head shrine of more than 10,000 Tenmangu Shrines and Tenjin Shrines in Japan, and is also one of the “Three Great Tenjin Shrines” in Japan.

Manywhere Trivia:
It is said that there are more shrines in Japan than convenience stores.

After passing through a few stone toriis at the entrance of the shrine, a heart-shaped pond comes into view. Two arch bridges and a flat bridge, representing the past, present and future, lie across the water, and this is the way to the main shrine. It is said that by walking across the Taiko Bridge over the Heart Pond, you can remove the dirt from your body and enter the realm of the gods.

Small Beast Lying on Top of a Stone Lantern

The Main Gate, which is the last gate leading to the main hall, has been destroyed and rebuilt several times throughout history. Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine’s Main Hall is dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the god of learning, scholarship and academics, and was built in 1591 by Kobayakawa Takakage. This hall is magnificently carved and decorated, showing the architectural style of the Azuchi-Momoyama period.

The Treasure Hall of Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine has a collection of artifacts such as armor and paintings, which provide valuable historical materials for studying the Tenjin Faith. The Kanko Historical Museum introduces the life of Sugawara no Michizane through historical scenes built by Hakata dolls.

Kanko Historical Museum

An Overview of Sugawara's Life

The Kanko Historical Museum is located behind the main hall of Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine and depicts the life of Sugawara no Michizane through sixteen scenes built by Hakata dolls. The museum also displays hundreds of statues of Sugawara no Michizane collected from all over Japan, showing the popularity of the Tenjin Faith in Japan.

There are 6,000 plum trees planted in Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, and the most famous one is located in front of the Main Hall and is said to have followed Sugawara no Michizane from Kyoto to this shrine, hence the name “The Flying Plum 飛梅”. In February and March, the shrine is transformed into a sea of plum blossoms, and you can buy local specialties such as plum cake at the Omotesando Shopping Street in front of the shrine.