Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine will undergo the first major renovation of its important cultural property “Gohonden” in 124 years to mark the 1,125th anniversary of the death of Sugawara Michizane in 2027.
The current main hall was rebuilt by Takakage Kobayakawa, Lord of Chikuzen, about 430 years ago, and was designated as a national important cultural property in the grand and splendid style of the Momoyama period (1573-1600).
During the renovation period, a “temporary hall” will be set up in front of the main shrine to allow visitors to worship. The design of the temporary hall was created with an emphasis on harmony with the Tenjin Woods, with a tree planted on the roof. Unlike the main hall, visitors can go up without taking off their shoes, and a ramp is provided to make it easier for the elderly and people with children to enter.
This is the first long-term repair of the building since its reconstruction, and a committee of experts, mainly specialists in architectural history and historical studies, has been established to carry out surveys and research in parallel with the repair work.
© Source travel watch