Sugawara no Michizane

Significance:
- he is critically important because he becomes, posthumously, a diety associated with storms
- he is a tragic hero, an example of “the nobility of failure”
- BUT unlike most other Japanese tragic heroes, ie. Minamoto no Yoshitsune, he is not a man of action — THERE IS NO FIGHTING OR VIOLENCE IN HIS LIFE
- in this way he exemplifies the refine of Heian society — he is a rebel with a sword
Michizane’s life
- born into an academic family — his father was a Confucian scholar and head of the national university
- Michizane shows great scholarly aptitude from an early age (this is standard in Japanese biography)
- he is known for his great skill in Chinese
  - became emperor’s tutor in Chinese poetry and history
  - edits two national histories
  - best Chinese-style letter and poet writter of his day — used as ghost writer by courtiers
why is Michizane a rebel?
- he is a non-Fujiwara courtier is a Fujiwara world
- he is allied with Emperor Uda, who seeks to minimize Fujiwara influence — Uda did not have a Fujiwara mother
- Uda seeks to balance Fujiwara power by having high ranking official from either non-Fujiwara families (Minamoto, Tachibana) or from the southern branch of the Fujiwara
in 887, Michizane backs emperor Uda in failed attempt to weaken the Fujiwara — the Akō debate

Uda does not ceremonially reappoint Fujiwara Mototsune as prime minister in 887, but instead appoints him as Akō, an ambiguous but high-ranking ancient Chinese term
Mototsune used this as an opportunity for brinksmanship
inquiry is ordered, scholars side with Fujiwara — all except Michizane — THIS ENDEARS HIM TO UDA

Uda continues to challenge Fujiwara and gradually reduces number of Fujiwara in key positions
in 893 Uda challenges Fujiwara again by naming as crown prince Atsuhito, who does not have a Fujiwara mother — the advisor on this move is Michizane
- in same year (893) one of Michizane’s daugthers becomes imperial consort

IN 894 Michizane is named ambassador to T’ang China
- this was an “honor” designed by Fujiwara to get Michizane out of town and embarass him
- travel to China was dangerous (T’ang dynasty is collapsing, pirates are rampant ALSO storms)
- Michizane was a Chinese scholar who spoke no Chinese
- Michizane is forced to cancel embassy — recommends no future trips
climactic struggle in 899-901
- Michizane has risen to Minister of the Right
- his key rival, Fujiwara to Tokihara, is Minister of the Left
- post of Prime Minister is vacant
- Uda retires at 31 and put his 13 yr. old son Atsuhito (emp Daigo) on the throne
- Tokihira seems to have convinced Daigo that Michizane was plotting against him
- 901/2 — Daigo strips Michizane of his offices at the capital and reappoints him as governor general in Kyuµshuµ — this is effectively political exile — he is forced to leave within days and without his family
- Uda comes to his aid, but too late and too clumsily

life in exile
- Michizane is devastated — he is isolated from his family and culture
- he writes beautiful kanshi about loss and loyalty and rustic beauty
- HE NEVER CRITICIZES UDA OR DAIGO — that would be disloyal
- he grows sick and dies in 903

posthumous vegeance
- bad things begin to happen to Michizane’s enemies
- Tokihira dies young in 909
- Minamoto no Hikaru (new mnister of the right) dies in a hunting accident
- in 921 Tokihara’s nephew, a crown prince, dies
- the new crown prince, Tokihira’s granson, dies suddenly
- eventually almost all of Tokihira’s grandsons die young
- in 923 Michizane gets his position of minister of the right back posthumously
- BUT he is still wrathful — in 930 the gov conducts rain prayers during a drought — a black cloud appears and lightening strikes the palace, killing four courtiers, including one of Michizane’s rivals
- emp Daigo dies of shock three month later
Michizane’s deification
- in 947 Michizane is formally recognized as a deity by the government
- because he is associated with thunder, he becomes confused/associated with numerous thunder shrines

Mild-mannered Confucian scholar?

or wrathful thunder-diety?