天神宮舊跡 Stele

Fujiwara Uona’s spirit lingers here. At the Hattori Tenjingu Shrine stands the 天神宮歌碑 Stele. It’s more than just a stone. It’s a testament to a man’s pain and a future god’s healing. Let’s journey back to the year 901. Sugawara Michizane, a prominent scholar and statesman, was traveling to his new post in Dazaifu, Fukuoka. He suffered from a debilitating leg ailment. Upon reaching Hattori village, his pain became unbearable. The villagers guided him to a small sanctuary dedicated to Sukunahikona, the god of medicine. As Michizane sought solace at the sanctuary, his eyes fell upon the 天神宮歌碑 Stele. He recognized it as the memorial of Fujiwara Uona. Uona, a respected aristocrat, had also succumbed to a leg injury at this very spot. Michizane, deeply moved, offered prayers for his own recovery and paid homage to Uona’s spirit. Miraculously, his leg began to heal. He continued his journey, eventually reaching his destination in Fukuoka. Years later, after Michizane’s death in 903, he was deified as Tenjin, the god of scholarship. The small sanctuary at Hattori, where he found healing, became the Hattori Tenjingu Shrine. The 天神宮歌碑 Stele, a silent witness to his recovery, became a significant part of the shrine’s history. It reminds us of the interconnectedness of past and present. The stele stands not just as a memorial to Fujiwara Uona but also as a symbol of Michizane’s healing and his eventual path to godhood. The next time you visit the Hattori Tenjingu Shrine, take a moment to reflect upon the story of the 天神宮歌碑 Stele. Its quiet presence speaks volumes about faith, healing, and the enduring power of the human spirit.