Dazaifu Tenman-gū

The Dazaifu Tenman- gū (Japanese太宰府 天 満 宫) is a Shinto shrine and one of the main shrines for the charges on Kami Tenjin scholar Sugawara no Michizane. The shrine located in Dazaifu in Kyushu, the exile, in the Sugawara no Michizane died. The main hall of the shrine said to have been built by his disciples Umasake no Yasuyuki in the year 905 on his grave. According to legend, the coffin Michizanes to have been worn by an ox, the Yasuyuki led to the funeral. For no reason, the ox shall have made all at once stop and can not be by threats and entreaties bring in to go. Therefore Michizane said to have been buried at the place where the bull has halted.

In the year 919 the Fujiwara family enlarged the building, which, however, was burned down in the following civil wars. The hall still preserved, is a replica from 1591 in the Momoyama style.

The district Dazaifu Tenman- gū covers over 12 square kilometers on which more than 6,000 ume trees of 197 varieties are planted. The most famous of them, the Tobiume ( " the flying Ume Tree" ) in the area between the main gate and the main hall is said to be uprooted from Kyoto and Sugawara no Michizane eagerly nachgeflogen in his exile.

In addition, many Campherbäume can be found on the premises. The oldest of them is supposed to be 1500 years old.

The priesthood at Dazaifu Tenman- gū is hereditary and took place so far at least 38 generations. The priest of Dazaifu Tenman- gū is also traditionally also the priest of the Kamado Shrine.

There are two minor shrines ( massha ) called Imao -sha -sha and Tarōsakon on the cry, utilizing Kami are not known. There are also numerous sub- shrines for relatives and familiars Michizanes: the Kaede -sha (枫 社) for his wife Kanko Kita- no-kata, the Kanko -sha for his four sons ( Takami, Kageyuki, Kaneshige and Fukashige ) and his other descendants to the sixth element, also the Oimatsu -sha Shimada Ason and the Tayu -sha for Watahari - haruohiko - Tayu, both two disciples of Michizane. Other side shrines are, inter alia, the Sonshi -sha ( a massha, dedicated to the Buddhist monk Hojobo - Sonshi ), the Kanko -sha ( a sessha dedicated to the Buddhist nun Kakuju -ni ) and the Hinoki -sha ( a sessha dedicated Buddhist nun Iyōmyō -ni ).

Up to the time of Shinbutsu - Bunri also existed five temple of the Tendai Shuu, who were in close connection with the religious shrine and were then destroyed.