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The Statesman Who Became the God of Learning — Sugawara no Michizane and the Flying Plum

The Heian scholar Sugawara no Michizane rose to Minister of the Right but was exiled to Dazaifu by a Fujiwara plot, dying in despair. After disasters struck the capital, his 'curse' was feared — and he was eventually enshrined as Tenjin, the god of learning, at Tenmangu shrines nationwide.

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The Heian scholar Sugawara no Michizane rose by sheer learning to Minister of the Right, but in 901 a Fujiwara plot exiled him to Dazaifu, where he died in despair in 903. He left a famous poem to his plum tree. After his death, lightning, plague, and the early death of his rival struck the capital — feared as his ‘curse.’ To appease him he was enshrined as Tenjin, and being a great scholar, became the god of learning worshipped at Tenmangu shrines nationwide.

Dazaifu Tenmangu, Fukuoka — head shrine built over Michizane's grave, visited by students as the god of learning

Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

The flying plum at Dazaifu Tenmangu — said to have flown overnight from the capital out of love for Michizane, symbol of his bond with plum blossoms

Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Kitano Tenmangu, Kyoto — one of the head shrines enshrining Michizane as Tenjin, founded to appease his vengeful spirit

Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Sugawara no Michizane