菅原道真(すがわらのみちざね)

すがわらのみちざね
noun (proper)
Sugawara no Michizane (scholar deified as god of learning)
historyreligionproper-nounperson-name
1. Sugawara no Michizane (845–903)
A Heian-period scholar, poet and statesman who rose to high office, was exiled to Dazaifu in Kyushu after a court intrigue, and died there. Disasters in the capital after his death were blamed on his angry spirit, and he was deified as Tenjin, now worshipped as the god of learning.
菅原道真(すがわらのみちざね)は学問(がくもん)の神様(かみさま)だ。
Sugawara no Michizane is the god of learning.
菅原道真(すがわらのみちざね)は太宰府(だざいふ)に左遷(させん)された。
Sugawara no Michizane was banished to Dazaifu.
受験生(じゅけんせい)は菅原道真(すがわらのみちざね)を祀(まつ)る天満宮(てんまんぐう)に合格(ごうかく)を祈(いの)りに行(い)く。
Students facing entrance exams visit the Tenmangū shrines dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane to pray for success.

Cultural note

  • Worshipped as 天神(てんじん)さま at 天満宮(てんまんぐう) shrines across Japan, chief among them 太宰府天満宮(だざいふてんまんぐう) and 北野天満宮(きたのてんまんぐう)
  • Students visit these shrines before entrance exams and leave 絵馬(えま) (votive plaques) with their wishes
  • He loved plum trees; legend says his favorite plum flew from Kyoto to Dazaifu to join him (飛梅(とびうめ)), and plum trees are planted at Tenmangū shrines

Common expressions

general
Added 2026.10.11 22:45 · Revised 2026.10.11 22:47
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