⛩️ Tianjin Shrine (Okayama Prefecture, Bizen City)

The Tianjin Shrine is said to have been built in 1411. It primarily enshrines the deity Sakuyahime no Mikoto, and due to its proximity to the Sugawara clan's estate, it later also came to enshrine Sugawara no Michizane. Bizen ware, also known as "Ibetsu ware," originates from the area of Ibe in Bizen City. Since the shrine was established here, many of the worshippers have connections to Bizen ware, and thus the temple preserves a large collection of Bizen ware. Welcoming visitors at the main gate are the Bizen ware komainu (guardian lions). The sacred gate was built in the 1700s through donations from worshippers and is adorned with Bizen ware roof tiles and reliefs of komainu on the walls. Additionally, there are many exquisite pieces of Bizen ware in the area, such as stone slabs laid on the ground and ceramic plates embedded in white walls, and even Bizen ware ema (votive tablets) can be found. At the time of its construction, the main shrine was located in front of Ura Ibe Shrine, but due to an outbreak of infectious disease in Ibe, the shrine was relocated to its current site in 1579, which led to the cessation of the epidemic. The main deity, Sakuyahime no Mikoto, is revered as the god of medicine and healing because he "established methods for treating diseases and averting disasters." Additionally, Sugawara no Michizane, who is worshipped as the god of scholarship, is believed to bless worshippers with academic success. © Okayama Prefectural Tourism Association

Bizen pottery, including the Komainu (guardian lions), is used as offerings. It is famous for being the town's deity of Bizen ware. Worshippers can receive blessings for good health and academic success.