A Tenmangu shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and politician. Like other Tenjin shrines, it serves as a place of worship for students and scholars seeking academic success and protection from misfortune.
- Denomination
- Tenjin
- Religion
- shinto
- Enshrined kami
- Sugawara no Michizane
- Kami enshrined
- Sugawara no Michizane
- Founding
- Heian period
- Coordinates
- 34.6739937, 135.7632627
Visitor tip
Visit during exam season to see the many ema (wooden plaques) left by students praying for academic success.
Cultural notes
Sugawara no Michizane is revered as the kami of learning, literature, and scholarship. Tenmangu shrines traditionally feature plum blossoms, which were his favorite flowers, and are popular pilgrimage sites for students preparing for examinations.
Historical note
Established as part of the Tenmangu shrine network that developed following the deification of Sugawara no Michizane after his death in 903 CE. These shrines were built to appease his spirit after a series of disasters were attributed to his anger at his political exile.