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First of 12,000 Tenjin Shrines in Japan

Hofu Tenmangu Shrine was founded in 904 for the worship of Tenjin, the deification of Sugawara no Michizane, a real-life aristocratic scholar, poet, and administrator who was banished to Kyushu from the court in Kyoto in 901. Michizane stayed in Hofu on his way into exile, hoping in vain for the charges against him to be dismissed as false. He eventually died in Kyushu in 903, but a number of miracles occurred in Hofu on the day of his death: a pillar of light shone into the sea and a mysterious cloud settled on the hill behind where the shrine now stands. These miracles were interpreted to mean that Michizane’s soul had returned to its last stop in Honshu, and so in 904, just one year after his death, this shrine was built for him in Hofu.

The miracles witnessed in Hofu were benign, but far more alarming events went on to unfold in Kyoto. Lightning struck not just the imperial palace, but also killed individual aristocrats who had helped engineer Michizane’s downfall. Clearly, Michizane had become a powerful god who needed to be propitiated.

As a god, Michizane was known as Tenjin, an abbreviation of Tenman-Daijizai-Tenjin, or “the heavenly god who can manipulate the weather freely,” in reference to his ability to control the lightning. After the deaths of Michizane’s arch-rival Fujiwara no Tokihara in 909 and Emperor Daigo in 930, propitiating Tenjin became a matter of national importance.

Today some 12,000 Tenjin shrines, or Tenmangu, are found in Japan. Hofu Tenmangu is the first in the country and ranks alongside Kitano Tenmangu in Kyoto and Dazaifu Tenmangu in Kyushu in importance. Hofu Tenmangu is unusual in a number of other ways: four gods are enshrined here, not just one (the other three are Michizane’s mythical ancestors). Also, the main sanctuary (honden), offering hall (heiden), and the worship hall (haiden) are three separate buildings in most shrines, but here they are all combined into a single one.

Hofu Tenmangu burned down in 1952, and was rebuilt over the next decade following the designs shown on ancient scrolls. Over time Tenjin came to be worshipped as the god of learning, reflecting Michizane’s accomplishments as a poet and scholar during his lifetime. That is why many people still come to Tenjin shrines to pray for academic success.

Hofu Tenmangu Quick Facts

• Dating from 904, Hofu Tenmangu is the oldest of the 12,000 Tenjin shrines in Japan.

• There are 57 stone steps leading up to the shrine, because Michizane was 57 years old when he reached Hofu en route to exile in Kyushu.

• The oldest tree in the shrine grounds is an 800-year-old camphor tree.

• The portable shrine and cart for the shrine’s Gojin-kosai Festival together weigh a massive 1.5 tons—as much as a rhinoceros!

• The torii gate at the entrance to the shrine grounds is the oldest stone torii in Yamaguchi Prefecture.

萬座天滿宮之先

防府天滿宮於904年創建，旨在祭祀菅原道真（845-903）。菅原道真身為貴族兼官員，於901年因莫須有之罪責，自京都朝廷被貶黜至九州。道真在下九州的途中一度留宿防府，雖也曾抱著一絲沉冤昭雪的念想，卻終未如願。903年，道真於九州與世長辭，當日，防府便出現種種奇蹟——似有一柱聖光射入大海，神社後山山頂更籠罩在一片神秘的雲霧之中。後人認為這是道真的靈魂重返他於本州的最後逗留之地，因此在其離世後僅一年的904年便創建了這一神社。

發生於防府的這一奇蹟並未造成任何實質災害。然而，於京都，更令人稱奇的怪事卻接連不斷。就在朝廷遭雷擊之際，陷害道真的貴族也一併被雷劈身亡。很顯然，道真已經變為強有力的神明，應當受到人們的尊崇，以息其怒。

身為神祇的道真，因其自由操縱雷電的法力，被世人稱為「天滿大自在天神（可隨心所欲控制天空之神）」，簡稱「天神」，廣為人知。909年，道真的宿敵藤原時平過世，930年醍醐天皇駕崩。之後，為平息天神之怒氣，奉祀天神便被認作是舉國上下的要事。

當今日本約有12000座天神神社（天滿宮）。日本首座天滿宮——防府天滿宮，與京都的北野天滿宮及九州的太宰府天滿宮合稱「日本三天神」。除此之外，防府天滿宮亦有許多獨到之處。如祭神非一尊而是多達四尊——即道真及三位曾於神話中出現過的道真祖先。多數神社中，本殿、幣殿、拜殿通常是獨棟建築，而這裡卻是三殿相連的一整棟複合式社殿。

防府天滿宮曾於1952年遭逢祝融之災，依照舊卷軸上殘留的設計記錄，歷經10年光景才得以重建。光陰荏苒，天神被當做學問之神來崇拜，或許正是由於道真一生既是學者亦是詩人的緣故。為此，前來天滿宮祈求學業有成者絡繹不絕。

防府天滿宮概述

• 防府天滿宮興建於904年，是日本全國12000座天神神社中最古老的一座。

• 前往神社的石階共設57階。此數字由來於道真被貶黜至九州後，滯留防府時正值57歲。

• 神社境內最古老的樹木為樹齡800年的樟樹。

• 神社祭祀、御神幸祭時所使用的「御神輿（御網代輿）」重達500公斤。

• 位於神社入口的鳥居，是山口縣內最古老的石造鳥居。

万座天满宫之先

防府天满宫创建于904年，旨在祭祀菅原道真（845-903）。菅原道真身为贵族兼官员，于901年因莫须有之罪，被朝廷从京都贬黜至九州。道真在下九州的途中暂居防府，虽也曾期望有朝一日沉冤昭雪，却终未如愿。903年，道真于九州与世长辞，当日，防府出现种种奇异天象——一柱圣光射入大海，神社后山山顶更笼罩在一片神秘的云雾之中。后人认为这是道真的灵魂重返他于本州的最后逗留之地，因此在他离世仅一年后的904年便创建了这一神社。

发生于防府的这一奇异天象并未造成任何实质灾害。然而，在京都却接连发生了更为离奇的事件。就在朝廷遭雷击之际，陷害道真的贵族也一并被雷劈身亡。显而易见，道真已化身为强有力的神明，是应当被尊崇和供奉抚慰的存在。

身为神祇的道真，因其拥有自由操纵雷电的法力，被世人称为“天满大自在天神”（可随心所欲控制天空之神），简称“天神”，广为人知。909年，道真的宿敌藤原时平去世，930年醍醐天皇驾崩。之后，为平息天神之怒，奉祀天神便被定为国家要事。

当今日本约有12000座天神神社（天满宫）。日本首座天满宫——防府天满宫，与京都的北野天满宫及九州的太宰府天满宫合称“日本三天神”。除此之外，防府天满宫亦有诸多独到之处。如祭神非一尊而是多达四尊——即道真及三位曾于神话中出现过的道真祖先。多数神社中，本殿、币殿、拜殿通常是独栋建筑，而这里却是三殿相连的一整栋复合式社殿。

防府天满宫曾于1952年遭火灾焚毁，依照旧卷轴上残留的设计记录，历经10年光景才得以重建。时光荏苒，天神被当做学问之神受人祭拜，或许正是由于道真一生既是学者亦是诗人的缘故。为此，前来天神神社祈求学业有成者络绎不绝。

防府天满宫概述

• 防府天满宫建于904年，是日本全国12000座天神神社中最古老的一座。

• 前往神社的石阶共设57阶。此数字由来于道真被贬黜至九州后，滞留防府时正值57岁。

• 神社境内最古老的树木为树龄800年的樟树。

• 神社祭祀、御神幸祭时所使用的“御神舆”（御网代舆）重达500公斤。

• 位于神社入口的鸟居，是山口县内最古老的石造鸟居。