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Sugawara Shrine

菅原神社

Sugawara Jinja

Nara

A Tenjin shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar, poet, and politician of the Heian period. As with other Tenjin shrines, it serves as a place of worship for academic success, literature, and protection from natural disasters.

Denomination
Tenjin
Religion
shinto
Enshrined kami
Sugawara no Michizane
Kami enshrined
Sugawara no Michizane
Coordinates
34.5472744, 135.737514

Visitor tip

Students often visit to pray for success in examinations and academic pursuits.

Cultural notes

Sugawara no Michizane is revered as the god of learning and literature, and his shrines are particularly popular among students preparing for entrance exams. Plum blossoms are associated with Tenjin shrines, as Michizane was known for his love of plum trees.

Historical note

Sugawara shrines are dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane (845-903), who was exiled from the imperial court due to political intrigue and died in Kyushu. After his death, a series of disasters were attributed to his vengeful spirit, leading to his deification as Tenjin, a deity of learning and thunder.

More shrines in Nara