Camellia Tea Ceremony3d ago

🔥🌸THE SHRINE OF FIRE AND WATER🌸🌊

There are so many places to see cherry blossoms in Kyotō, too many sites to talk about, that I thought I would focus on a few favourite spots.

The first is a location that claims to be the oldest Tenmangū shrine in Japan!
#Kyoto #Japan #京都

Show threadCamellia Tea Ceremony3d ago

The character's '水' (sui) and '火' (ka) in the shrine's name mean 'water' and 'fire, and it is believed Suika Tenmangū (水火天満宮) offers protection from floods and conflagrations.

People also pray for improvement in skills and success in their careers at the small Inari shrine.

Show threadCamellia Tea Ceremony3d ago

😡☹️MICHIZANE'S FALL👉🐂

Sugawara-no-Michizane (菅原道真) reached the height of his power in 899, appointed 'Minister of the Right' (右大臣), but storm clouds were gathering.
His patron, Emperor Uda, abdicated in favour of his young son, who was close to the rival Fujiwara clan.

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In 900 Miyoshi Kiyoyuki (三善清行) advised Michizane to step down, but Michizane failed to heed his old rival's words and the Fujiwara struck the next year.
Accused of plotting against the throne Michizane was demoted to Dazaifu (exile in everything but name), where he died in 903.
Mar 24 at 5:14amWeb
Show threadCamellia Tea Ceremony3d ago
Very soon after Michizane’s death ferocious lightning storms struck the city and the Kamo River flooded.
A lengthy period of strange events unfurled (drought, epidemics, comet sightings, a lunar eclipse and unseasonable weather), during which his political enemies began to die...
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😠CALMING AN ANGRY SPIRIT🙇‍♂️
A few years following his death it was believed Michizane had become an angry force hellbent on cursing the administration.
In order to quell his anger he was granted posthumous titles, his children were recalled from exile & prayer services were held.
Show threadCamellia Tea Ceremony3d ago
Emperor Daigo called for the high priest of Enryaku-ji to come and hold prayers in honour of Michizane, but when Son-i (尊意) reached the Kamogawa the river was engulfed in a flash flood that spilled into the city.
He could feel a malevolent spirit attempting to bar his path.
Show threadCamellia Tea Ceremony3d ago

Son-i lifted his vajra (or rosary) to the heavens and offered a prayer to Michizane's spirit
The storm suddenly abated and Son-i discovered a large stone at his feet. On this appeared the image Michizane, but in the blink of an eye the figure dissolved into fog.

#Kyoto #sakura

Show threadCamellia Tea Ceremony3d ago
In 923 Emperor Daigo commanded a shrine built dedicated to Michizane's spirit, and Son-i enshrined the stone (thereafter known as 'Tōtenishi' 登天石 'Ascent to Heaven Stone').
As the shrine was to protect against the fires & floods ravaging the city, it was name 'Suika-no-Yashiro'.
Show threadCamellia Tea Ceremony3d ago
If the founding date is correct, then this would be Kyoto's oldest Tenmangū shrine.
Although dating to 905, Dazaifu Tenmangū could be argued to have begun as a funerary shrine. Suika Tenmangū is possibly the oldest site dedicated to appeasing Michizane as the god Tenjin (天神).