“Whenever spring wind blows, my dear plum trees remember to bloom, even if your master won’t be here.”
This is known as the poem composed by Sugawara Michizane, the deity of Dazaifu Tenmangu, when he left his own residence in Kyoto. The precincts of Dazaifu Tenmangu are filled with the fragrance of the plum blossoms.
Many artists, both ancient and modern, have taken up the challenge of creating works with the plum blossoms in mind. Regardless of genre, the plum flower has been a timeless motif for artists, and their works have touched our heartstrings through the ages. This exhibition introduced a selection of works from the shrine collection related to plum design.