Tenjin-Sama （天神様）
image source
Official Form(s)of Address:
-sama (様）
Other Name(s):
Sugawara no Michizane（菅原道真）¹、Tenman Dai-jizai Tenjin (天満大自在天神）、Tenman Tenjin（天満天神）
¹[Sugawara no] Michizane-kō（[菅原]道真公）is also commonly used
Other Title(s):
Senior First Rank (正一位 Shō ichi-i）、Prime Minister (正一位太政大臣 shō ichi-i daijyō daijin)
Basic Information
Brief History
Sugawara no Michizane (845-903 CE) was a Heian Period (794-1185 CE) academic and politician. By the age of 11, Sugawara no Michizane had mastered Classical Chinese writing many famous Waka poems, and by the age of 33 was appointed Doctorate of Literature (the highest rank for scholars of the time). As a politician Sugawara no Michizane was fairly progressive, advocating for social reform and advising on foreign affairs.
In 901 CE, due to political scheming, Sugawara no Michizane was demoted from Minister of the Right （右大臣 Udaijin）to Vice Governor-General at Dazaifu （太宰権帥 Dazai no gon no Sochi). Exiled without seeing family, Sugawara no Michizane died there in 903 CE.
After death, Sugawara no Michizane was considered a Vengeful Spirit （御霊 goryō) due to a series of natural disasters hitting Kyoto, and the misfortune that fell upon political opponents involved in Sugawara no Michizane’s exile. Examples of such included: the death of Fujiwara no Tokihira during his prime (909 CE), Tokihira’s nephew The Crown Prince Yasuakira’s death at 21 (923 CE), and the repeated strikes of lightning on the Imperial Palace in Kyoto which resulted in numerous deaths of officials( 930 CE).
Later on Sugawara no Michizane was exonerated, and posthumously returned to previous ranks. The receiving of numerous oracles led to Sugawara no Michizane being recognized as the kami Tenjin in 986 CE.
Goshintoku（御神徳）
Learning, Culture, and The Arts
Honesty, Sincerity and Devotion
Dispelling False Accusations
Protecting Children
Dispelling Misfortune
Agriculture
Personal Growth
Kami Name Etymology
天神
天 「ten」 Sky, Heaven
神 「jin」 Kami, Thunder
Tenjin was originally the name given to the thunder kami. There are still a few shrines dedicated to this original kami.
天満大自在天神
満 「man」 Being Full
大自在 「daijizai」 Complete Freedom, Great Unhinderance (Buddhist Idea)
Tenman Dai-jizai Tenjin is actually a combination of the kami for thunder (Raijin), Sugawara no Michizane, a Chinese deity, an escoteric Buddhist Dharma protector deity, and the Amatsukami. The name literally translates to “Celestial Deity of Great Power Filling Heaven”
Nowadays, the name is mostly synonymous with the “Kami of Learning” Tenjin-sama, Sugawara no Michizane.
Major Shrines
There are approximately 14,000 shrines dedicated to Tenjin-sama around Japan. The role of head shrine（総本社 sōhonsha）is typically split between Kitano Tenman-gū and Dazaifu Tenman-gū. The Three Great Tenjin Shrines （日本三大天神 Nihon sandai tenjin）are three major shrines dedicated to Tenjin-sama, the third spot is heavily debated.
Many students often go to Tenman-gū to pray for success on entrance exams.
Dazaifu Tenman-gū, Fukuoka
Brief Shrine History
This shrine was built on the burial grounds of Sugawara no Michizane, and is one of the major Tenjin-sama shrines.
The main worship hall（本殿 honden）was first built in 905 CE, and the version standing today was built in 1591 CE. The shrine grounds also have 6,000 plum trees（梅 ume）.
Importance
According to legends the site of the shrine was decided when the ox carrying Sugawara no Michizane, stopped in front of a Buddhist temple and refused to move. It is also said that one of the plum blossoms that Tenjin-sama dearly treasured flew from Kyoto and landed there. It is called the Flying Plum （飛梅 tobiume).
The shrine also contains a museum, as well as many important cultural artifacts from the Heien Period (794-1185). Many of Sugawara no Michizane’s original poems are on display, and people often donate calligraphy, poetry and other works of art here.
Kitano Tenman-gū, Kyoto
Brief Shrine History
Built in 947 CE, in an attempt to appease the angry spirit of Sugawara no Michizane, it is one of the major shrines dedicated to Tenjin-sama. The current shrine building was built in 1607 CE and is a national treasure.
Importance
The shrine received Imperial patronage and messengers were sent to report on the state of the nation to the “Guardian Kami of Japan”.
It is also the location of the annual outdoor tea ceremony （野点 nodate）hosted by local Geiko（芸子） and Maiko（舞妓）.
The shrine is also the location of the famed Kitano Tenjin Engi “The Illustrated Origins of Kitano Tenjin”, a series of illustrations about Tenjin-Sama’s life and accomplishments.
Hōfu Tenman-gū, Yamaguchi
Brief Shrine History
The shrine was built in 904 CE. Sugawara no Michizane stayed in Hōfu on his way to exile. Four kami are enshrined here, Tenjin-sama, as well as Sugawara no Michizane’s mythical ancestors.
The Honden, Offering Hall （幣殿 Heiden）, and Prayer Hall（拝殿 Haiden） are unique in that they are all one building.
The shrine burned down in 1952 CE and was rebuilt according to old depictions on the scrolls.
Importance
According to legend, on the day of Sugawara no Michizane’s death a bright pillar of light shone in the sea and a cloud came to rest on the mountain behind where the shrine in Hōfu now rests. This was interpreted to mean that Sugawara no Michizane had returned as a kami.
Significant Dates
The 25th of every month is dedicated to Tenjin-sama. This can be attributed to several major events during Sugawara no Michizane’s life: born June 25th, the two main decrees of promotion and later exile were signed on January 25th, and the day of death was February 25th. As such it is considered a “Memorial Day” (縁日 en-nichi).
Many shrines hold various rituals on the 25th of each month. Kitano Tenman-gū holds a monthly flea market. It is traditional to visit the shrine or temple on this day and give thanks.
January 7th: Usokae Festival
Exchanging wooden carvings of bullfinches, which symbolizes trading in your untruths for blessings. It is believed that you can revive a year of good fortune, advancement in work, and all around general luck.
February 25th: Plum Festival
The festival that commemorates the death of Sugawara no Michizane. Offerings of plum wine and various plum dishes are common. In Kyoto a traditional tea ceremony is held under the plum blossoms.
July 24th-25th: Summer Tenjin Festival
Festival that celebrates the birth of Sugawara no Michizane. The festival is one of the major purification rituals during the year. It concludes with a candle lighting ceremony. One of the biggest celebrations of this festival occurs in Osaka, and is one of the top 3 matsuri in Japan.
September 21st-25th: Jinkoshiki, The Grand Procession of Sugawara no Michizane (Dazaifu)
A part of the shrine’s Autumn festival, prayers for the prosperity of the nation and health of the emperor are made. It is traditional to wear Heian period style clothing and parade around accompanied by traditional music. The procession goes to Enoki Shrine which was the former residence of Sugawara no Michizane. This is the most important festival for Dazaifu Tenman-gū.
4th Saturday of November: Gojin-Kosai Festival (Hōfu)
Commemorates the day that Emperor Ichijo issued a decree which pardoned Sugawara no Michizane, 101 years after death. It’s also colloquially known as Hadakabo-Matsuri (The Naked Monk Festival) due to many of the participants only wearing a white loincloth. The nakedness symbolizing serving kami in a pure and natural state.
Spiritual Messengers and Symbols
The main messenger of Tenjin-sama is the Ox. This is due to the legend that the Ox carrying Sugawara no Michizane decided the location of Dazaifu Tenman-gū. Also, Sugawara no Michizane’s eastern Zodiac was the Bull. The bullfinch is another one of Tenjin-Sama’s messengers.
Tenjin-sama is associated with Plum blossoms, as they were the favorite of Sugawara no Michizane. You will see the symbol of the Plum blossom in many Tenman-gū.
Shinto & Buddhist Syncretism
Tenjin Shinkō （天神信仰）has its earliest roots in both Buddhist and Shinto practices. According to historical sources the spirit of Sugawara no Michizane was appeased by Tendai and Shingon Buddhist monks in the 940s. Along with this the Anrakuji temple (nowadays Dazaifu Tenman-gū) appointed members of the Sugawara family as the head of the temple. During the 11th-12th centuries, Tenjin-sama became associated as an embodiment of Kannon （specificially The Eleven-Faced Kannon Jūichimen Kannon 十一面観音）, the Buddhist Bodhisattva of compassion. Later on Tenjin-sama also became associated with Shōten and Daikokuten.
There is even a mandala of pilgrimages to shrines and temples at Kitano Tenman-gū Shrine, which is said to have originated in the Middle Ages. The main shrine and temples are arranged around Tenman Daijizai Tenjin, who is in an enraged state.
Sources:
http://eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp/modules/xwords/entry.php?entryID=1081
https://faculty.humanities.uci.edu/sbklein/GHOSTS/articles/Borgen.pdf
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Fedyanina_Vladlena/publication/327765301_THE_TENJIN_CULT_A_BRIEF_HISTORY_OF_THE_SYNCRETIC_CULT_OF_A_HEAVENLY_DEITY_IN_JAPAN/links/5ba3574592851ca9ed176ca9/THE-TENJIN-CULT-A-BRIEF-HISTORY-OF-THE-SYNCRETIC-CULT-OF-A-HEAVENLY-DEITY-IN-JAPAN.pdf?origin=publication_detail
https://nichibun.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_action_common_download&item_id=1521&item_no=1&attribute_id=20&file_no=1
http://kitanotenmangu.or.jp/sp/top_en.php
https://www.dazaifutenmangu.or.jp/en/discover-dazaifu-tenmangu/history/
https://www.dazaifutenmangu.or.jp/en/art-and-events/events/
https://visit-hofu.jp/en/spots/hofu-tenmangu-shrine
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Fedyanina_Vladlena/publication/327765301_THE_TENJIN_CULT_A_BRIEF_HISTORY_OF_THE_SYNCRETIC_CULT_OF_A_HEAVENLY_DEITY_IN_JAPAN/links/5ba3574592851ca9ed176ca9/THE-TENJIN-CULT-A-BRIEF-HISTORY-OF-THE-SYNCRETIC-CULT-OF-A-HEAVENLY-DEITY-IN-JAPAN.pdf?origin=publication_detail
http://www.lares.dti.ne.jp/~hisadome/honji/files/KITANO.html
http://www.lares.dti.ne.jp/~hisadome/honji/files/DAZAIHU.html
