Courtiers Visit Sugawara no Michizane’s Mortuary Temple, from Illustrated Legends of the Kitano Tenjin Shrine ca. 1300 Japan An ancient Shinto belief that unpredictable, calamitous forces of nature are animated by tormented or vengeful human spirits underlies the legendary origin of the Kitano Tenjin shrine in Kyoto, dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane (845–903). Michizane was a distinguished scholar and statesman who died in exile, having been slandered by enemies at natural disasters and plagues caused the deaths of his detractors, he was posthumously elevated to high office in ord
Courtiers Visit Sugawara no Michizane’s Mortuary Temple, from Illustrated Legends of the Kitano Tenjin Shrine ca. 1300 Japan An ancient Shinto belief that unpredictable, calamitous forces of nature are animated by tormented or vengeful human spirits underlies the legendary origin of the Kitano Tenjin shrine in Kyoto, dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane (845–903). Michizane was a distinguished scholar and statesman who died in exile, having been slandered by enemies at natural disasters and plagues caused the deaths of his detractors, he was posthumously elevated to high office in order to appease his angry spirit. In 942, the first Kitano Shrine was established; Michizane was deified as Tenjin, god of agriculture and patron of the falsely accused. In this scene with text, once part of a set of handscrolls painted in the hakuby? (white drawing) style of narrative illustration, an imperial messenger and two courtiers arrive at Anrakuji, Michizane’s mortuary temple, to read the emperor’s edict posthumously promoting Michizane to high court Courtiers Visit Sugawara no Michizane’s Mortuary Temple, from Illustrated Legends of the Kitano Tenjin Shrine. Japan. ca. 1300. Handscroll; ink on paper. Kamakura period (1185–1333). Paintings
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