In order to become wiser...a visit to the Brush Memorial Service of the Egaraten Shrine/Kamakura

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1201250039/

January 25, 2012

Nikai Hall, Egaraten Temple, Kamakura City

The Brush Memorial Service was held on the 25th, at Nikai Hall of Egara Temple, Kamakura City. In prayer of improved scholastic and calligraphy ability, old, used brushes and pencils are thrown into a fire.

Beforehand, 2,000 old pencils and brushes are gathered. After a religious ceremony is performed in front of the main temple, on that same day temple visitors come together. bringing the writing instruments. One after another,  they throw them into the middle of a cleansing fire. Allowing gratitude to enter their hearts, they join hands.

The event is held in worship of the God of Scholasticism , Suguwara no Michizane. The Egaraten Temple along with Kitano Tenman-gū Shrine and the Dazaifu Tenman-gū Shrine are three larger shrines representing the Tenman-gū Shrines.


Original text
賢くなりますように…荏柄天神社で「筆供養」/鎌倉
2012年1月25日

鎌倉市二階堂、荏柄天神社

使い古した毛筆や鉛筆を火の中にくべ、学問や書道の上達を祈願する「筆供養」が25日、鎌倉市二階堂の荏柄天神社で行われた。

事前に集められた古筆は約２千本。本殿前で神事が行われた後、参拝者が当日持ち込んだものと合わせて次々と浄火の中に投じ、感謝の気持ちを込めて手を合わせた。

荏柄天神社は学問の神様菅原道真を祭り、北野天満宮（京都）、太宰府天満宮（福岡）と並ぶ日本三大天神社の一つ。