Hatsu-Tenjin Festival and Fude Kuyo Brush Memorial at Egara Tenjin Shrine (荏柄天神社)

What Are the Hatsu-Tenjin Festival and Fude Kuyo at Egara Tenjin Shrine?

The Hatsu-Tenjin Festival (初天神祭) at Egara Tenjin Shrine (荏柄天神社) is held every year on January 25. At shrines dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane (菅原道真), the deity of learning, the 25th of each month is a festival day, and the first 25th of the year is called Hatsu-Tenjin. On this day, Egara Tenjin Shrine follows the ceremony with Fude Kuyo (筆供養), a memorial service in which worn-out brushes and pencils are burned to thank them and to pray for progress in study and calligraphy.

Date and Time

The ceremony usually starts at 10:30. It is held on January 25 every year, whatever the day of the week.

Highlights: Burning Brushes in the Plum-Shaped Bowl

The ceremony first takes place inside the shrine building, and people gathered in the grounds bow together with the priests. When the priests come out, Fude Kuyo begins in the middle of the approach. A ritual area is enclosed with shimenawa (注連縄), a sacred straw rope, and brushes and pencils are piled high in a bronze umebachi (梅鉢), a bowl shaped like a plum blossom. When the chief priest lights the pile, the flames spread across the whole bowl, and more brushes are added as they burn. Visitors can also be seen placing the brushes they brought into the fire.

Around this time of year, the kankobai (寒紅梅) red plum tree to the right of the worship hall usually begins to bloom. See Plum Blossoms at Egara Tenjin Shrine for the shrine’s plum trees.

How to Offer Your Old Brushes

The shrine accepts old brushes all year round, not only on the day. Bring them to the old-brush box to the left of the shrine building or to the amulet office. There is no limit on the number, and pencils are accepted too. There is no set offering fee (hatsuho, 初穂); give what you feel is right. The shrine also holds a brush memorial at the Efudezuka Festival (絵筆塚祭) in October.

About Egara Tenjin Shrine

The grounds of Egara Tenjin Shrine hold the Kappa Fudezuka (かっぱ筆塚), a brush monument linked to the cartoonist Shimizu Kon (清水崑), and the Efudezuka (絵筆塚), built by cartoonists including Yokoyama Ryuichi (横山隆一) who carried on his wishes. It is a shrine with deep ties to the brush. For the shrine in autumn, see Autumn Leaves at Egara Tenjin Shrine.

Access: Getting There from Toshi’s Place

From the east exit of JR Kamakura Station (鎌倉駅), take a Keikyu bus bound for Daitonomiya (大塔宮), get off at Tenjin-mae (天神前), and walk about 3 minutes. From Toshi’s Place, take the Enoden (江ノ電) from Hase Station (長谷駅) or Wadazuka Station (和田塚駅) to Kamakura Station and change to the bus.

Staying in Kamakura lets you reach the 10:30 ceremony without rushing. Toshi’s Place, an unstaffed smart hotel with a full kitchen (room only), lets you enjoy Kamakura at your own pace.

Summary

The Hatsu-Tenjin Festival and Fude Kuyo at Egara Tenjin Shrine burn worn-out brushes and pencils in a plum-shaped bowl to pray for progress in study and calligraphy. For the shrine’s year-round highlights, see Egara Tenjin Shrine. On the same day, Jorakuji Temple (常楽寺) in Ofuna unveils its hidden statue of Monju Bosatsu at the Monju Festival. On February 8, the shrine holds Hari Kuyo, where worn-out needles are pushed into tofu to thank them.

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