[游记]福冈の太宰府天满宫(Fukuoka:DazaifuTenmangu) 小王子日记

Wed. 20.2.2008

我們這次旅行的目的是看梅花，所以又怎會錯過太宰府天滿宮 。當連JR太宰府站的燈牌都畫着梅花的時候，大家就知道太宰府的梅花是多麼有名。

The main purpose of our trip is to look at plum blossoms and therefore we have to visit Dazaifu Tenmangu. You can tell Dazaiful is famous for its beautiful plum blossoms because even the sign of the JR Dazaifu station has plum blossoms drawn on it.

太宰府天滿宮參道兩旁都是商店，有很多都是賣太宰府限定的梅枝餅。我初初以為梅枝餅內是梅，但其實它是糯米做的皮包着紅豆蓉，之所以叫作梅枝餅是因為餅面印着梅花的圖案。雖然材料簡單，但新鮮熱辣的梅枝餅也蠻好吃的。

The street leading to Dazaifu Tenmangu has stores on both sides. A majority of them sell plum cakes, whose ingredients contain no plums, but are made of sticky rice and red beans. They are called plum cakes because they have plum blossoms stamped on them.

另一部份的店鋪就專賣吉祥物，尤其是保佑考試合格的吉祥物。

Another group of stores sell lucky charms, especially those for studying.

每一年都有很多學生專程到太宰府天滿宮參拜，繪馬通通都是寫着祈求能夠通過考試(合格!!!絕對合格!!!!!)和進入理想的學校。

Each year many students visit Dazaifu Tenmangu to pray for passing their exams and being accepted by good schools.

我們參觀時，剛巧有儀式在舉行。不知那是甚麼儀式呢？

While we are at Dazaifu Tenmangu, a religious ritual is being carried out. But I have no idea what it is about.

因為現在只不過是二月中旬，太宰府天滿宮的6000株梅花樹都不是盛開，但不損遊人的興致，大家依然影相影得很高興。

Because it is still early in the year, none of the 6000 or so plum trees in Dazaiful Tenmangu are in full bloom. Nevertheless, the visitors are enjoying themselves and taking pictures of the plum flowers that are blooming.