DAZAIFU TENMANGU SHRINE

A Shinto shrine in Fukuoka Prefecture in northern Kyushu. It is built over the grave of Sugawara no Michizane (845–903), a renowned scholar and politician, and dedicated to Tenjin, the deified form of Michizane. Although he was a child prodigy who composed many poems beginning in his early childhood and who served an important position in the government, he was later exiled to Dazaifu for a crime he did not commit. Despite the isolation and unreasonable treatment, he remained in good spirits to the end of his life. Since his death, he has been revered and worshiped as the god of learning, and the shrine is still visited by millions of students every year. Michizane was also known for his love of plum trees, and he composed many poems dedicated to them, including the one he wrote for a particular plum tree right before his departure to Dazaifu. A romantic legend says the plum tree missed his master so much that its spirit flew to Dazaifu to become the tree known as tobi-ume (飛梅, or the flying plum) at Dazaifu. In early spring at Tenmangu, the plum blossoms come into bloom, filling the space with a sweet aroma that brings a smile to the visitors’ faces. I’m sure Michizane is smiling, too.