Sugawara no Michizane
Sugawara no Michizane and the Early Heian Court by Robert Borgen Published June 6th, 1986 Picture taken from Goodreads on July 31st, 2025 Who was Sugawara no Michizane? Today, he has been deified with the old Shinto god Tenjin and identified as the god of learning. Shrines to him are spread across Japan, and he is commonly worshiped by those writing a test to get into university. However, the man in life was rude, arrogant, and critical of anyone he didn't like. He was unable to handle criticism of himself or his poetry. If you praised him, he was your best friend and lifelong supporter. His family was from a lower caste and not true blood nobility, but Sugawara rose to one of the highest positions in Japan under Emperor Uda by the close of the 9th century. He was a master of Chinese learning, but proposed ending the tribute arrangement to China. At the time, it was because China was experiencing profound unrest and rebellion. Sugawara no Michizane was worried for his safe...