Tenjin-sama

Tenjin-sama is the deified form of Sugawara no Michizane, a scholar-statesman born in 845 CE and died in 903 CE in exile at Dazaifu. He was favored by Emperors Uda and Daigo, rose to udaijin, and was sent away to Dazaifu through the slander of Fujiwara no Tokihira. His life and posthumous events are recorded in Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku, Nihongi Ryaku and Fusoryakki. After his death lightning and epidemics struck Heian-kyo; in 923 CE the imperial court reversed his demotion and posthumously elevated him. The founding of Kitano Tenmangu in 947 CE is set out in the Kitano Tenjin Engi, which records the oracle through the medium Tajihi no Ayako. His father was Sugawara no Koreyoshi, of the Sugawara line descended from Haji, with Nomi no Sukune of the time of Emperor Suinin given as ancestor in the Shinsen Shojiroku of 815 CE. Kitano Tenmangu in Kyoto and Dazaifu Tenmangu in Fukuoka stand as the twin head shrines.