EA40 Week 2b Outline

I. How does Sugawara no Michizane's story fit the model of goryô?

A. How does he die?

    1. Fujiwara no Tokihira

     2. Miyoshi no Kiyoyuki (rival scholar)

a. sons: Jôzô and Dôken (AKA Nichizô)

B. What happens after he dies? How does he manifest as a GORYÔ?

1. 909: Tokihira dies in 909 at age 39 (image)

2. 922: Tokihira's nephew, the crown prince (son of Emperor Daigo), dies at 21.

3. 925: Tokihira's grandson is named crown prince, but dies at age 5.

4. 930: Lightening strike at palace causes death of four courtiers including Fujiwara no Kiyotsura who had visited Michizane in 901 in Kyushu and reported that Michizane admitted plotting to overthrow the throne.

5. Emperor Daigo dies a few months later

 

C. How does Michizane become identified as the God of Thunder (NARUKAMI, a raijin)?

1. (image)

2. earlier episode when Michizane was governor of Sanuki (image)

D. How does Michizane become the Deity of Scholarship (TENMAN TENJIN)?
 

1.   various oracles and dream visions

2.   retroactive pardon and posthumous promotions

3.   shrines/temples

a. c. 919: Kyushu (then known as Dazaifu): shrine at Anrakuji Temple

b. c. 947: Kitano Shrine in Kyoto

4.  Michizane  = Kitano or Tenman Tenjin (Tenjin means "heavenly kami")

5.  Michizane's descendants (who had been exiled)

a. Sons return to the capital and service at university

b. Sugawara put in charge of temples and shrines dedicted to Michizane as Tenman Tenjin

1) 947: grandson appointed head of Anrakuji

2) 976: Sugawara descendants take charge of Kitano Shrine

II. Discussion question: Looking at oracles that develop around Michizane, what evidence do you see that various factions (religious, political, class-based) are struggling for control of Michizane's story?

A. Who was the "author" of each oracle? I.e. who became possessed to give the oracle or had the dream vision? (male or female? part of a religious institution or non-institutional?)

B. Who was the intended audience?

1. Three political factions:

a. peasants
b. Fujiwara
c. other aristocrats who want to get power away from Fujiwara

2. Two Religious Factions:

a. popular shamanic religion, often led by charismatic female shamans, tied to peasants
b. institutional religion, both Shinto and Buddhist, led by male religious figures, tied to aristocracy

C. Purpose? (not entertainment)

D. What do they have to gain from the oracle? How do the oracles reveal various religious and political factions fighting for control over Michizane?

a. How do the common people view Michizane? That is, how does popular worship of Michizane link up to popular political protest?

b. How do the Fujiwara (and Kiyoyuki's family) view Michizane?

c. How do other powerful aristocrats view Michizane?

ORACLE 1: In 939 a "prostitute" (shamaness) becomes possessed at Hachiman Shrine and gives an oracular proclamation that the rebel Taira no Masakado is to be the new emperor; Michizane is supposed to have written the proclamation. [Borgen, p. 314]

ORACLE 2: Dôken (Nichizô)'s dream oracle of 941 [Borgen, pp. 315-319, Tyler, "God of Fire and Thunder"]

Who is Dôken/Nichizô?

a. son of Kiyoyuki (rival of Michizane who helped get him banished)

b. a yamabushi (mountain ascetic)

ORACLE 3: Tajihi no Ayako (peasant shamaness) oracle of 942 [Borgen, pp. 319-320]

a. Michizane requests deification at Kitano

b. 945 dancing and singing cult moves towards Kyoto carrying portable shrines dedicated to Michizane

c. In sixth month of 947 Kitano Shrine is established

ORACLE 4: In the third month of 947, oracle received in Ômi province by seven-year-old son of Shinto Priest Miwa no Yoshitane [Borgen, pp. 320-21]

 
a. Michizane again requests deification at Kitano and indicates sign: miraculous pine trees

b. in cooperation with Tendai priest Saichin, Yoshitane founds Kitano Shrine

III. How does Michizane's angry spirit manifest itself in the Heian period? How is this different from contemporary notions of ghosts?