Prior to his posthumous deification as the god of learning, Tenjin was known as Sugawara no Michizane (845–903), an important Heian-period scholar and statesman. His flourishing career at the imperial court ended abruptly with his exile to Dazaifu, where he eventually died in obscurity. The legends surrounding his tumultuous life on earth and his supernatural afterlife have since been passed down through the generations, often in pictorial form. These traditional tales first appeared in illustrated handscrolls before expanding its viewership in the form of hanging scrolls. Later on, people began also telling more regional tales that traced Tenjin’s footsteps in local places and histories, allowing a more diverse audience to relate to him. In recent years, a string of discoveries related to the legends of Tenjin have emerged in Fukuoka, including new additions to the limited number of hanging scrolls we had known of before. We have thus taken this opportunity to hold an exhibition showcasing these objects, presenting the legends as a window to the fascinating world of Tenjin. We hope that you will uncover fresh insights into this remarkable figure and his enduring cultural legacy through this exhibition.
Important Cultural Property Legends of the Matsuzaki Tenjin Shrine, Scroll Six (segment) Kamakura period, dated 1311 Hōfu Tenmangū, Yamaguchi / Exhibition period: first half
• 2/2(Tue.) ~ 3/28 (Sun.)
First half: 2/2 (Tue.) ~ 2/28 (Sun.)
Second half: 3/2 (Tue.) ~ 3/28 (Sun.)
• Closed: Monday (open if Monday is a national holiday)
• 9:30~17:00 (Last entry 16:30)
• Adult ¥700, university student ¥350, free for HS and younger & 70 y.o. and older
• Kyushu National Museum
• 4-7-2 Ishizaka, Dazaifu City, Fukuoka
• 050-5542-8600
• https://www.kyuhaku.jp/en/exhibition/exhibition_pre170.html
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Important Cultural Property Account of the Origins of the Tenmangū Anrakuji Temple (segment) By Sumitōhokuin Shinjun Muromachi period, copied in 1559 Dazaifu Tenmangū, Fukuoka
