《4》Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine (Part 4)

《4》Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine (Part 4)

《4》Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine (Part 4)...Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine's famous "Umegae Mochi"

 

- Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine attracts about 10 million visitors every year, including tourists and students praying for success in entrance exams. (In front of the Corona disaster in 2019) Umegae Mochi is a specialty of the teahouses that line the shrine grounds and approach.

 

- These rice cakes, which are baked in the shape of plum blossoms, are flat and feature hot bean jam. The origin of Umegae Mochi comes from an old woman who took pity on Sugawara no Michizane, who was sent to Dazaifu in 901 and lived an unhappy life, and often offered him rice cakes.

 

- When Michizane died, he sent the rice cakes with a branch of Japanese apricot, and the name "Umegae Mochi" was derived from this legend. It is said that the spirit of Michizane was connected to this rice cake, and it became famous that "if you eat Umegae Mochi, you will be rid of illness", and became widely popular. /

 

太宰府天満宮(その4)…太宰府天満宮の名物「梅が枝餅」

 

- 太宰府天満宮には、毎年観光客や合格祈願の受験生たち約1,000万人もの参拝客が訪れています。(2019年のコロナ禍前)その境内や参道に並ぶ茶屋で、焼き立てを食べる名物の餅が「梅が枝餅」です。

 

- 梅の花の形の焼き目がついたこの餅は、平たくて熱々のあんこが特徴です。この梅が枝餅の由来は、901年に大宰府に左遷されて不遇な生活を送っていた菅原道真公にある老女が同情し、餅を度々差し入れたことからきています。

 

- 道真公が亡くなった時、この餅に梅の枝を添えて送ったという故事にならい、梅が枝餅と称されるようになりました。この餅に道真公の霊が通じ「梅が枝餅を食べると病魔が退散する」と有名になり、広く親しまれるようになったといわれています。