The scholar who became the god of learning
Sugawara no Michizane 菅原道真公
Also known as: Tenjin, Kankō
Element: Wood (木)
The myth
Sugawara no Michizane (845–903) was a real scholar, poet and statesman of the Heian court who rose to the post of Minister of the Right.
Rivals had him exiled to Dazaifu in Kyushu, where he died. Disasters that struck the capital afterwards were blamed on his angry spirit, and he was enshrined as Tenjin to calm it. In time Tenjin became the patron of scholarship.
He loved plum blossoms: legend says his favorite plum tree flew from Kyoto to Dazaifu to be with him.
What people pray to Sugawara no Michizane for
- Study and exams
- Work and career
- The arts and performance
Why: Brilliant at poetry and study from childhood, he is the patron of students: shrines to him fill with exam prayers every winter.
Where to meet Sugawara no Michizane
The element shown is the one used by Kamimap's fun guardian-kami quiz, based on traditional five-element associations. It is not a religious teaching.