Dazaifu Plum
| Location | City of Dazaifu |
|---|---|
| Designation | Undesignated |
| Emblem |  |
In the Nara period, plum blossoms, which bloom in spring and emit a pleasant fragrance, were seen as new and elegant trees brought in from Tang China. “Baika no en” (The Plum Blossom Banquet) was described in the Man'yoshu. Plum-blossom viewing became popular in Dazaifu as well. The image of plum blossoms came to be linked to Dazaifu and Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, with the Tobi-ume legend and Jomyo-ni legend especially, because of Sugawara no Michizane's lifelong affection for this flower. Even today, many people plant plum trees at their houses and a traditional event to donate plums to Tenmangu is held.
(The Tobi-ume (flying plum tree) legend has it that a particular tree yearned so much for Michizane that it flew overnight from Kyoto to reunite with him in Dazaifu. The one to the right of the Main Shrine is said to be this legendary tree.
The Jomyo-ni legend is a story about an elderly lady who took good care of Michizane, who was forced to lead an uncomfortable life in Dazaifu, by (for example) offering baked rice cakes skewered on a plum branch. This is said to be the origin of umegae-mochi, a famous specialty cake of Dazaifu.)
Sugawara no Michizane and Plums
Sugawara no Michizane was demoted from Kyoto to Dazaifu in 901, and he famously composed a poem about a plum tree in his residence on the day he left for Dazaifu. “When the wind from east blows, let it send your fragrance, oh plum blossoms; although your master is gone, do not forget the spring.” (Spoken by the “master” (Michizane) to the plum). Legend has it that the plum tree, missing its master, flew from Kyoto to Dazaifu, and this tree, called Tobi-ume, which stands to the right of the main shrine at Dazaifu Tenmagu, was apparently transplanted when Tenmangu was built.
Dazaifu City Characters/Tabito the Traveler, Otomo no Tabitto, Princess Reiwa
Plum blossoms were liked by Sugawara no Michizane and loved by Otomo no Tabito. This plant has become a symbol of the area, used as a design in both the Dazaifu City emblem and the Fukuoka Prefecture emblem.
Plum trees are planted in the gardens of roughly half of households in the city of Dazaifu. There are also many plum-blossom related souvenirs, including the famous umegae mochi (rice cakes filled with sweet bean paste) along with a slew of new products appearing on the market.
Access Information
Address
Tobi-ume：818-0117 4-7-1 saifu, Dazaifu, Fukuoka
By Train
About 5 min on foot from Nishitetsu Dazaifu Station
About the Western Capital
The “Western Capital”, created in Tsukushi 1300 years ago. Cultural assets speaking to the magnificence of this city of international exchange that flourished in East Asia are scattered across the cities of Chikushino, Kasuga, Onojo, Dazaifu, Nakagawa, and Umi in Fukuoka Prefecture as well as the town of Kiyama in Saga Prefecture.