Japanese plums and Sugawara no Michizane
If one puts efforts into studying, the plum trees will bloom.
When searching for the origin of this quote, you will surely find the name Sugawara no Michizane or Tenman-Tenjin.
Sugawara no Michizane was a Heian period noble (794 – 1185) and excellent poet. His father and grandfather were both scholars and Sugawara no Michizane also entered this path and worked as a scholar at court.
Yushima Tenjin
He stood at Emperor Udas side when The Fujiwara clan tried to take away more power from the Imperial family and rose in rank. When it came to finding a successor for Emperor Uda, Sugawara no Michizane and Fujiwara no Tokihira stood on different sides and Sugawara no Michizane was exiled to Kyushu.
There is a legend that Sugawara no Michizane’s plum tree followed him to Kyushu by flying all the way down from Kyoto. You can still see the flying plum tree “tori-ume” in Dazaifu Tenmangu.
After Sugawara no Michizane died in exile, many bad things, especially weather catastrophes happened in Kyoto, hitting the palace. The people believed it was the angry spirit of Sugawara no Michizane who was banned and lost his court titles and ranks before his death.
Kameido Tenjin
To calm his spirit they built him a shrine (the Kitano Tenmangu in Kyoto), and restored all his ranks and titles and even all records about him being banished. But the disasters didn’t stop. The last what the people could do to calm the angry spirit was to deify him and he became a Shinto god (kami), the Tenmangu-Tenjin or short: Tenjin-sama.
All shrines with the additive “Tenjin” or “Tenmangu” are dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane. They usually feature many plum trees because of the legend of the flying plum tree and are visited by students of any age who pray for passing important tests.
Interesting to read:
Sugawara no Michizane and the Early Heian Court
Author: Robert Borgen
Price: ~$30.46
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With twelve years of professional landscaping experience under her belt, Anika Ogusu is your perfect guide to the world of Japanese gardens. Her love of nature began early, in the woods near her childhood home and the garden of her grandmother’s house. During her teenage years she developed a strong interest in Japanese culture, and after university she decided to combine her love of Japan and gardens into a profession. Anika started her career as chief gardener in charge of the perennial valley at the Botanical Garden in Hamburg, Germany, then moved to Tokyo in pursuit of her dream. For two years she apprenticed under local landscape designers and learned the art of Japanese garden design, construction and maintenance. Now, in partnership with Real Japanese Gardens (www.japanesegardens.jp), her wish is to spread the magic of Japanese gardens to the rest of the world. Her in-depth guide books on gardens throughout Japan are available in eBook format or paperback. In her free time, Anika enjoys exploring her adopted country (especially green moss gardens), and soaking up nature and any details that interest her.
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With twelve years of professional landscaping experience under her belt, Anika Ogusu is your perfect guide to the world of Japanese gardens. Her love of nature began early, in the woods near her childhood home and the garden of her grandmother’s house. During her teenage years she developed a strong interest in Japanese culture, and after university she decided to combine her love of Japan and gardens into a profession. Anika started her career as chief gardener in charge of the perennial valley at the Botanical Garden in Hamburg, Germany, then moved to Tokyo in pursuit of her dream. For two years she apprenticed under local landscape designers and learned the art of Japanese garden design, construction and maintenance. Now, in partnership with Real Japanese Gardens (www.japanesegardens.jp), her wish is to spread the magic of Japanese gardens to the rest of the world. Her in-depth guide books on gardens throughout Japan are available in eBook format or paperback. In her free time, Anika enjoys exploring her adopted country (especially green moss gardens), and soaking up nature and any details that interest her.
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