地域観光資源の 多言語解説文データベース

A Minister in Life; a God in Death

Deified as the god Tenjin after his death in 903, Sugawara no Michizane (845–903) was a historical figure from the Heian period (794–1185). The son of a scholarly aristocrat of middle rank, he rose under Emperor Uda’s patronage to be Minister of the Right, one of the top positions in the government, through sheer power of intellect rather than family connections. Michizane’s success eventually aroused the resentment of his more highly-born rivals. As a result, after Emperor Uda’s abdication in favor of his son, Emperor Daigo, Fujiwara no Tokihara, the Minister of the Left, invented false charges against Michizane that resulted in his banishment from the court in Kyoto. He was sent to the city of Dazaifu in Kyushu, which was the seat of government for Kyushu and the place where emissaries from China and Korea were received.

Before leaving Kyoto, Michizane begged Retired Emperor Uda to help clear his name. The last place Michizane stayed in Honshu was Hofu, then a provincial government administrative center. Michizane was received kindly because he had blood ties with the local Haji clan. He also lingered in Hofu because, still hoping that the charges against him would be dismissed as false, he was reluctant to make the final sea crossing over to Kyushu.

Michizane finally reached Dazaifu in 901 and died in 903, just two years later, of what legend says was a broken heart. The miracles that occurred in Hofu on the day of his death—a single beam of light shining into the sea, a mysterious cloud covering the peak of a nearby hill—convinced people that the soul of the man who had never wanted to leave Hofu and Honshu in the first place had returned in death. If his soul had come back, they reasoned, then it would need a place to live. That is why the Hofu Tenmangu Shrine was built in 904, just one year after Michizane’s death.

在世為臣謝世為神

菅原道真（845-903）是平安時代（794-1185）的學者兼政治家。其在903年去世後，被後人神化，素有「天神」之尊稱。道真本是中層貴族學者之子，但他並未倚仗家族權勢，而是憑己身才賦，努力晉升為朝廷高官「右大臣」。時任「左大臣」、家世更為顯赫的藤原時平，視道真為眼中釘肉中刺。眼看道真平步青雲，時平漸生嫉恨。宇多天皇讓位於長子醍醐天皇後，時平誣告道真，將其逐出京都朝廷，貶至接待中韓使節的九州行政機關「大宰府」。

道真離開京都前，曾懇求退位的宇多上皇為己洗刷汙名。其滯留於本州的最後一片土地，便是當時行政機關所在的地方城市——防府。與道真有著血緣關係的當地土師氏族，溫情迎接了道真的到來。道真滿心希望天皇能為己沉冤昭雪，遲遲不願渡海前往九州，而於防府逗留了很長一段時間。

901年抵達太宰府的道真，於兩年後的903年，抑鬱而終。其逝世當天，在防府出現了奇蹟。據說一道聖光射照向大海，附近山頂更蒙上一層神秘的雲霧。由於道真生前居住的最後一片本州大地便是防府，世人認為這些跡象是他含冤而死後，魂魄仍殷殷盼望重獲清白，重回舊地。同時，道真的魂魄如若歸來，須有供奉之地，於是，在道真去世後僅一年的904年，興建了防府天滿宮。

在世为臣谢世为神

菅原道真（845-903）是平安时代（794-1185）的学者兼政治家。其在903年去世后，被后人神化，称为“天神”。道真本是中层贵族学者之子，但他并未倚仗家族权势，而是凭自身才赋，晋升为朝廷高官“右大臣”。当时，家世更为显赫的“左大臣”藤原时平，视道真为眼中钉肉中刺。宇多天皇让位于长子醍醐天皇后，由于受到时平的诬告，道真被逐出京都朝廷，贬至接待中韩使节的九州行政机关“大宰府”。

道真离开京都前，曾恳求退位的宇多上皇为己平反昭雪。其滞留于本州的最后一片土地，便是当时行政机关所在的地方城市——防府。与道真有着血缘关系的当地土师氏族，温情接待了道真。道真时刻期盼天皇能为己沉冤昭雪，迟迟不愿渡海前往九州，因此在防府逗留了很长一段时间。

901年抵达太宰府的道真，于两年后的903年，抑郁而终。其逝世当天，防府出现了奇异天象。据说一道圣光射向大海，附近山顶更蒙上一层神秘的云雾。由于道真生前居住的最后一片本州大地便是防府，世人认为这些迹象是他含冤而死后，魂魄仍殷殷盼望重获清白，重回旧地。同时，考虑到道真的魂魄如若归来，须有供奉之地，于是，在道真去世后仅一年的904年便兴建了防府天满宫。