The name of Tenjin, the largest commercial district in Kyushu, derives from the name of god enshrined in this shrine.

It is the soul of Sugawara Michizane that is enshrined at Suikyo Tenmangu Shrine. At this shrine quietly nestled among the office buildings, the soul of Michizane has long been worshipped as the god of study.

Suikyo literally means water mirror. This name of the temple is said to have come from the story that Michizane looked down on the water surface to see his weary-looking face when he was demoted and transferred to Dazaifu.

The shrine was originally located in Imaizumi area and later moved to the present site by Kuroda Nagamasa, the first lord of Fukuoka Clan, as a guardian shrine to protect the east side of his castle.