Banknote Japan 5 Yen Sugawara Michizane - ND (1944) - Block 96

Sugawara no Michizane (845-903), also known as Tenjin, was a Japanese scholar, poet, and politician during the Heian period. Revered for his literary talents and wisdom, he held prominent positions at the imperial court. However, due to political intrigues, he was unjustly exiled to Kyushu, where he passed away. His death was followed by calamities attributed to his vengeful spirit. To appease his soul, the emperor posthumously rehabilitated him and he was deified as Tenjin, the god of literature and learning. The Kitano Tenmang? Shrine, built in his honor in Kyoto, is a place of veneration and hope for students seeking academic success. His influence as a patron of arts and knowledge still endures in Japan today.