“God of Study”, loved the ume blossoms The spring atmosphere in Kitanotenmangu Shrine, Kyoto
Kyoto is an ancient city representing Japan, and a lot of tourists from both Japan and abroad visit here.
Kitanotenmangu Shrine in Kamigyou-Ku is the head shrine of Tenmangu, that is to worship Michizane SUGAWARA and there are 12,000 shrines.
It worships Michizane as “Tenjin”, and it is famous as the birthplace of “Tenjin Shinko”.
Michizane SUGAWARA was a scholar, a noble, and a post of “Udaijin” in the Heian Period.
He was talented of literature since he was a child so that he was called a genius, and deeply trusted from an emperor.
But he was demoted to Dazaifu in Kyushu because of an innocent, and he’d never landed in Kyoto.
After his death, several disasters troubled Kyoto, and people thought Michizane’s regrets brought them so that they built Tenmangu in Kitano to pray for him to calm down.
This is the beginning of Kitanotenmangu Shrine.
It was in 947, and Kitanotenmangu Shrine has more than 1,000 years of history.
In the Edo Period, people, who want to share the excellence of Michizane, lined up to worship.
Then, it has become the God of Study and a lot of people has visited to pray for an academic achievement.
Michizane loved Ume blossoms.
In Kitanotenmangu Shrine, there are 50 types of 1,500 Ume trees.
Buds of early flowering types have been developed since the middle of December, and it blooms after the New Year Day.
Then, they are bloomed bit by bit, and people can enjoy beautiful ume blossoms until the end of March.
Even this year, “Baien Kokai” will be held from the beginning of February to the end of March; there will be the walking path between ume blossoms, and the tea-house will be opened to enjoy the tea and sweets.
On February 15th, it was held that “Baika-Sai Festival” and “Baika-Sai Nodate Ochanoyu” by Maiko-san and Geiko-san.
People who visit to see ume blossoms can see lovely ume blossoms and enjoy drinking ume tea, using Kitanotenmangu’s ume, and eating sweets, motif from ume, that are included in the entrance fee.
“Shaden (main building)”, connected from Honden (main hall) to Haiden (worship hall) by a stone paved corridor, is designated as the national treasure, and it is a view spot that the tatami floored solemn tea room, holding the tea party on 1st and 15th every month.
After visiting the shrine, please try to eat “Namayubadon (row yuba bowl)” in the old tofu restaurant nearby Kitanotenmangu Shrine, and “Ippon Udon”, one thick and long piece of Udon noodle in the handmade udon restaurant.
Also, we recommend you to eat “Chougoroumochi” with green tea at the tea ceremony!
There is a tasteful moment to think of Michizane SUGAWARA, called “God of Study” who passed away at the place where was far away from Kyoto, and to see beautiful ume blossoms.
Why don’t you feel the coming spring in Kitano, Kyoto?
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Source of photos:http://www.kitanotenmangu.or.jp/
Source of photos:://souda-kyoto.jp/blog/00358.html
Source of photos:://kitanotenmangu.or.jp/about_precincts.php
Source of photos:://www.athome.co.jp/vox/series/life/23625/pages2/
Tags:tatami tatamiroom Kyoto KitanoTenmanguShrine GodofStudy MichizaneSUGAWARA umeblossoms Namayubadon IpponUdon Chougoroumochi
