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The Plum and the Ox: Symbols of Legends

The plum and the ox are two key symbols associated with Sugawara no Michizane (845–903), the man who after his death became Tenjin, the god enshrined at Hofu Tenmangu Shrine. As an aristocratic aesthete of the Heian period (794–1185), Michizane was a great lover of flowers, plum blossoms in particular. Legend has it that when he was banished to Kyushu, he first stopped off at his Kyoto mansion to bid farewell to the plum tree in his garden. When Michizane got to Kyushu, his three favorite varieties of tree—the cherry, plum, and pine—are supposed to have tried to fly after him. The cherry withered away from loneliness; the pine tried to follow him but ran out of strength; only the plum tree made it all the way, flourishing and giving comfort to Michizane in his exile. In this way, the plum blossom became the symbol of Tenjin and appears as the crest of many Tenmangu shrines in Japan. It is also the reason why there are around 1,100 plum trees in the grounds of Hofu Tenmangu.

In Shinto, every god has their own designated animal servant or messenger. In the case of Michizane, that animal is the ox—and there is an anecdote that explains why. Michizane died in exile in Dazaifu in Kyushu in 903. Despite his disgrace, as a man of a certain stature he was still entitled to a grand funeral with an ox-cart to carry his body. As the funeral cortege was making its way to the burial ground, however, the ox pulling the cart sat down and refused to budge. This was interpreted to mean that Michizane wished to be buried precisely at that spot. Ever since, the seated ox has been one of the symbols of Tenjin, the deified Michizane, and it is believed that the deity is enshrined within seated oxen images. There are three statues of seated oxen at the Hofu Tenmangu.

梅與牛——眾多傳說的象徵

提及死後被尊崇為天神的防府天滿宮主祀神「菅原道真（845-903）」，就不得不提兩大重要象徵——「梅」與「牛」。身為極富鑑賞力的平安時代（794-1185）貴族，道真亦愛花如痴，尤其是梅花。另有道真與梅花的相關傳說：道真被貶官至九州時，行前曾途經京都宅邸，向庭園的梅花樹惜別。道真遠赴九州之時，心愛的櫻花樹、梅花樹、松樹竟飛舞於空中，欲追隨其腳步。櫻花樹因太過寂寞，而漸漸凋零；松樹盡力追趕，卻在途中不支力竭；最終僅剩梅花樹成功安抵，綻放花朵，撫慰遭貶黜的道真。此後梅花作為天神的象徵，亦成為日本許多天滿宮的神紋（神社固有紋樣）。正因如此防府天滿宮內，約種有多達1100株梅花樹。

神道教中，所有神祇都有親自欽點的動物使者，而道真的便是牛。有一軼聞流傳至今，可詮釋其背後的理由：道真遭貶後，於903年在九州太宰府過世。他死時雖身負汙名，卻因社會地位崇高，葬禮仍相當盛大，有牛車搬運遺體。在前往埋葬地點的途中，拉車的牛隻竟突然坐於地上，不肯再前進一步。後人認為正是道真希望能被安葬在牛隻所臥之地。日後，這隻靜坐之牛（臥牛）被神化，成為天神象徵之一，據信天神便附身於牛的體內。防府天滿宮內，共有三座臥牛像。

梅与牛——众多传说的象征

提及死后被尊奉为天神的防府天满宫主祀神菅原道真（845-903），就不得不提两大重要象征——“梅”与“牛”。身为极富鉴赏力的平安时代（794-1185）贵族，道真爱花如痴，尤其是梅花。另有道真与梅花的相关传说：道真被贬至九州时，行前曾途经京都宅邸，与庭园中的梅花树惜别。随后，道真远赴九州之时，心爱的樱花树、梅花树、松树竟腾空飞舞，欲追随其脚步。樱花树因太过寂寞而日渐凋零；松树尽力追赶，却在途中力竭而亡；最终只有梅花树成功抵达，吐露芬芳，抚慰遭贬黜的道真。此后梅花作为天神的象征，亦成为日本众多天满宫的神纹（神社固有纹样）。防府天满宫内因此而栽种约1100株梅花树。

神道教中，众神皆有亲自钦点的动物使者，而道真的使者正是牛。有一轶闻流传至今，可诠释其渊源：道真被贬后，于903年在九州太宰府过世。他死时虽身负污名，却因社会地位崇高，葬礼仍相当隆重，并用牛车搬运遗体。在前往埋葬地点的途中，拉车的牛只竟突然卧下，不愿前行——后人认为此正是道真希望能被安葬在牛只所卧之地。后来，这只静卧之牛（卧牛）被神化，成为天神象征之一，据信天神便附身于牛的体内。防府天满宫内，共有三座卧牛像。