Tenjin

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Definition

Sugawara no Michizane, aka Tenman Tenjin (845-903 CE), was a scholar, poet, and high-level administrator in the Japanese court during the Heian Period. Badly treated and exiled, he would gain a spectacular revenge on his political rivals from beyond the grave when he was deified following a series of disasters thought to be a product of Tenjin's anger. He became the patron god of scholarship and education, and a shrine was built in his honour at Kyoto, the then capital.

More about: Tenjin

Timeline

  • 845 - 903
    Life of the deified scholar and court official Sugawara no Michizane, aka Tenjin.
  • 877
    Sugawara no Michizane (Tenjin) becomes a professor of Chinese literature.
  • 886 - 891
    Sugawara no Michizane (Tenjin) is the regional governor of Sanuki, Japan.
  • 893
    Sugawara no Michizane (Tenjin) is appointed a court councillor.
  • 899
    Sugawara no Michizane (Tenjin) is made Minister of the Right. The Fujiwara leader Tokihira is made Minister of the Left.
  • 901
    Sugawara no Michizane (Tenjin) is exiled to Dazaifu, Kyushu.
  • 903
    Death in exile of Sugawara no Michizane (Tenjin).
  • 947
    The Tenmangu Kitano shrine is founded in honour of Sugawara no Michizane, aka Tenjin.
  • 987
    Sugawara no Michizane is officially deified and given the title Tenjin.
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