Sugawara no Michizane: Between the Spirit of Poetry and the Vengeful Spirit
Sugawara no Michizane: Between the Spirit of Poetry and the Vengeful Spirit
Sugawara no Michizane, a Heian period figure who is still revered today as the god of learning and poetry, lived a life marked by triumph, tragedy, and deification. This article explores the character of Michizane and the cultural and spiritual legacy he left behind, exploring its relevance for the modern era.
God of learning, poet
Michizane excelled in academics from a young age and served the Imperial Court as a Doctor of Literature. Many of his Chinese poems delicately interweave nature and emotion, and his poems about plum blossoms are particularly famous.
If the east wind blows, let the plum blossoms spread their fragrance. Even though they have no master, do not forget spring.
This poem was written just before he was demoted. The plum blossom was a symbol of Michizane and a source of spiritual support for him.
Demotion and the legend of vengeful spirits
Michizane was caught up in political strife and demoted to Dazaifu. After he died in despair, lightning strikes and epidemics occurred one after another in the capital, and people feared that his vengeful spirit was the cause of his curse. This later led to his deification as "Tenman Daijizai Tenjin."
Kitano Tenmangu Shrine in Kyoto was built to appease him, and now many students take entrance exams visit it as the god of learning.
Michizane's poetic spirit lives on today
Michizane's poetry is imbued with love for nature, solitude, and sincerity. His words challenge us today to consider the power of words and sincerity of the heart.
For example, the "intersection of the changing seasons and emotions" seen in Michizane's poetry resonates deeply with the world of seasonal words and color names that are featured in the WABISUKE blog. Michizane's poetic spirit lives on in our creations today as a "cultural legacy."
Summary: Poetry and the Form of Prayer
Sugawara no Michizane is not just a historical figure, but an embodiment of the "soul that dwells in words." Reading his poetry is like an act of prayer, connecting the past and the present. His scholarship, poetry, and legends of vengeful spirits—all of these speak to the depth of the man known as Michizane.