키타노텐망구 (北野天満宮) 의유서

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스가와라노미찌쟈네공 (菅原道真公)

츄쇼덴 (中将殿, 본디율령제에 있어서의 관위 중의 하나로,스가와라공의 자)

킷쇼메 (吉祥女, 스가와라공의 처)

키타노텐망구는 스가와라노미찌쟈네공 (스가와라공) 을 제례하는 신사 (神社) 의　종사 (가장 중심이 되는 것으 로써 존경하여 모심) 로, 친근함을 담아 「키타노의천신」으로 불리우고 있다.

헤안시대 중반의 텐략쿠원년 (天暦元年, 947) 에 쿄토에 살고 있던 타지히 아야코 (多治比文子) 와 오미노쿠니 (현재의 시가현) 의 히라노미야의 신주인 미와노요시타네 (神良種) , 키타노아사히지 (北野朝日寺) 의 승려 사이칭 이 그곳에 신전을 세우고, 스라와라공을 제례 한 것이 시작이라고 한다. 그 후, 후지와라씨로 인하여 대규모의 신 전이 조영되고, 에이엔원년 (永延元年, 987) 에 이치죠천황의 칙사가 파견되어 이 곳에서 국가의 평안을 기원하 였다. 그 시기부터 키타노텐망구천신의 신호 (신들의 이름을 존칭해 붙이는 칭호) 를 인정받아, 칸코원년 (寛弘元 年, 1004) 에 이치죠천황의 행차를 시작으로 황실 대대의 숭경을 받아 국가 국민을 수호하는 영험한 신으로써 숭 배를 받았다.

에도시대에는 교육시설로써 각지에 읽기, 쓰기, 주산등을 가르치는 서당을 보급하고, 그곳에는 반듯이 천신을 제례, 또는 신영 (스가와라공의 모습을 그린 것) 을 게재하여 학업성취와 무예상승을 기원해 왔다. 현재 전국 각 지에는 스기와라공을 제례하는 신사는 약 일만이천사 정도라 하며, 그 대부분이 당 궁에서 그 영혼을 나눈 신사 라고 한다.

스가와라공은 대대로 「문도의 근본, 풍월의 본주」로 앙모되고, 학문의 신으로써의 신앙은 옛부터 지금까지 변 함없이 사람들의 생활 속에서 계승 되고 있다.

CENTRAL GATE.

Also called Sankomon (Gate of the Three Iurni-naries) because of the sculptured suns, moons,and stars it bears.

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  Mirror with a map of Japan

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  The Nihon Shoki,a Chronicle of ancient Japan

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  Grand Tea Ceremony at Kitano Shrine held by the Regent Toyotomi Hideyoshi

HISTORY

This shrine enshrines Michizane Sugawara , who because of his great learning during his lifetime is worshipped as the patron of learning. Michizane was first especially favored by Emperor Uda, who bestowed great trust in governmental affairs upon him. But later he was exiled to Kyushu because of slander and died in exile in 903. After his death, severe earth- quakes and thunderstorms did constant damage in the home provinces, and it was thought commonly that these were the result of his wrath. The Imperial Court granted him the post- humous title of Karai TenJin, or God of Fire and Thunder ; because of the increasingly large number of his slanderers and their families who met with unexpected disaster, his power was more and more feared by the Court and the common people.

The process of divinization of Michizane was greatly assisted by sympathy with his misfortune of having died in exile, by admiration for his unchanging spirit of loyal service, by the mute judgment of the masses against their rulers, and by the social unrest caused by the ever-continuing disasters. Because of the prophe-cies spoken in 942 by Tajihi-no-Ayako, who lived in Nishi-no-kyo Shichijo, and in 947 by Taro-maru, a child of Hirano Yoshitane of Omi, a shrine was built in the present location and was known as Tenman Tenjin. In 959, the Udaijin (Minister of the Right) Fujiwara-no-Morosuke enlarged the buildings. On the fifth day of the eighth month of 987, the Kitano-matsuri was celebrated for the first time ; this festival continues to the present day. In 1004, Emperor lchijo paid the shrine its first Imperial visit, and later the shrine was included, with the other great shrines such as Kamo and lwa-shimizu, in the numberof the great 22 shrines. The shrine was often the object of Imperial visits, and the regents, shoguns, and common people of all ages since have paid it extraordinary reverence.

Its annual festival is August 4, and there are also very many special rites connected with literary pursuits and agriculture. SHRINE A part of the present Honden, or Main Shrine, was built in 1607 by Toyotomi Hideyori. Both the Honden and Haiden have the irimoya-zukri style of roof, and there is a stone room between the two buildings. To the West and East of the Haiden are Gaku-no-ma, or Music Chambers’ ; the roofs of these bulldlngs are all united Into one roof this style of architecture is called yatsu-rnune-zukuri or gongen-zukuri. The buildings are designated as important cultural properties, and are representative examples of Momoyama architecture. The many plum trees in the shrine precincts are due to the fact that Michizane was fond of plum trees in his lifetime.

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  Illustrated Scroll of the Origin of Kitano Tenjin

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  Votive tablet with illustration of Benkei on horseback

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  Votive tablet with illustration of a Sacred Horse

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  Mandala of Kitano Shrine

  

  Desk and ink-stone case with decorations by sprinkled golddust over lacquered surfaces

• ACCESS

  City Bus (5O) or (101) from JR Kyoto Station; (201)Demachiyanagi Station to Kitano Tenmangu-mae.

  POINTS

  Kitano Tenmangu Shrine is familiarly known as “Tenjin-san of Kitano” and is the comprehensive head shrine of Japan’s Tenmangu shrines in which Sugawara Michizane, patron deity of learning, is enshrined. The Treasure House was built in 1927 as a project commemorating Mantosai, employing the highest level of technology avail-able at the time in a mixed Western and Japanese style. Many objects in the collection are on display, including such pieces as the “Kitano Tenjin Engi” scroll painting (a National Treasure), the record of the Great Kitano Tea Gathering, and the Shofu ink stone said to be a favorite of Sugawara’s.