菅原道真 – 英語で説明するために – 英会話形式で学ぶ

Hey Key, I’ve been reading about Sugawara no Michizane lately. He seems like a really fascinating historical figure. Do you know much about him?

Well, I visited Kameido Tenjin Shrine the other day, and I saw students praying there. I asked about it, and they told me it’s dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane. So I wanted to learn more.

I heard he became Monjō Hakase, one of the highest-ranking scholarly positions in the Imperial Court, at just 22 years old.

So how did he become a politician?

Wow! He must have been really powerful.

That’s awful! What happened to him there?

Oh, I think I read about that! Something about the tree flying to him?

That’s such a touching story. But he didn’t survive long after that, right?

That sounds like a ghost story!

That’s incredible. So now, he’s worshiped as Tenjin, the god of learning?

I see! So besides Kitano Tenmangu and Dazaifu Tenmangu, are there other famous shrines for him?

That explains why I saw so many students there. I feel like I understand him a lot better now.

That sounds like a great idea!

Who Was Sugawara no Michizane?
Sugawara no Michizane (845–903) was a famous scholar, poet, and politician from the Heian period in Japan. He was known for his intelligence, honesty, and love for learning. Today, he is worshiped as Tenjin, the god of learning, at many shrines across Japan.

Early Life and Education
Michizane was born in Kyoto in 845 into a family of scholars. From a young age, he was very talented in Chinese literature and poetry. At just 22 years old, he became Monjō Hakase, one of the highest-ranking scholarly positions in the Imperial Court. This position meant he was responsible for teaching future government officials.

A Successful Politician
Michizane gained the trust of Emperor Uda and became a powerful government official. In 894, he stopped Japan’s missions to China (Tang Dynasty) because China was weak, and the journey was dangerous. This decision helped Japan develop its own unique culture. Later, he became Minister of the Right, one of the most important positions in the government.

Exile to Dazaifu
However, Michizane had powerful enemies. The Fujiwara clan, who controlled the government, saw him as a threat. In 901, they spread false rumors about him, and he was exiled to Dazaifu (Kyushu). He lived there in sadness and loneliness until his death in 903.

Legends After His Death
After his death, strange things happened in Kyoto—thunderstorms, lightning, and the sudden deaths of his enemies. People believed Michizane’s angry spirit was causing these disasters. To calm him, the emperor built Kitano Tenmangu Shrine in Kyoto, and he became a god of learning.
One famous story says his plum tree in Kyoto flew to Dazaifu because it missed him. This tree, called Tobiume (Flying Plum Tree), still exists at Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine today.

Worship and Shrines
Today, Michizane is worshiped at Tenmangu shrines across Japan. The most famous ones are Kitano Tenmangu (Kyoto), Dazaifu Tenmangu (Fukuoka), and Kameido Tenjin (Tokyo). Students pray to him for success in exams.

Conclusion
Sugawara no Michizane was a brilliant scholar and loyal politician who suffered an unfair exile. His tragic story and deep love for learning made him a legendary figure in Japanese history. Today, he is remembered as the god of learning, inspiring students across Japan.

Hey Key, I’ve been reading about Sugawara no Michizane lately. He seems like a really fascinating historical figure. Do you know much about him?

ねえキー、最近菅原道真について読んでるんだけど、すごく興味深い歴史上の人物みたいだよね。彼について詳しい？

Well, I visited Kameido Tenjin Shrine the other day, and I saw students praying there. I asked about it, and they told me it’s dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane. So I wanted to learn more.

こないだ亀戸天神社に行ったんだけど、学生たちが祈っているのを見たんだ。それで聞いてみたら、菅原道真を祀っている神社だって教えてもらって、もっと知りたくなったんだよ。

I heard he became Monjō Hakase, one of the highest-ranking scholarly positions in the Imperial Court, at just 22 years old.

22歳で文章博士っていう、宮廷で最高レベルの学者の地位についたって聞いたよ。

So how did he become a politician?

それで、どうやって政治家になったの？

Wow! He must have been really powerful.

すごいね！かなりの権力を持っていたんだね。

That’s awful! What happened to him there?

ひどい話だね！太宰府ではどうなったの？

Oh, I think I read about that! Something about the tree flying to him?

あ、それ読んだことあるかも！梅の木が彼のもとに飛んでいったって話でしょ？

That’s such a touching story. But he didn’t survive long after that, right?

感動的な話だね。でも、その後あまり長く生きられなかったんでしょ？

That sounds like a ghost story!

まるで幽霊の話みたいだね！

That’s incredible. So now, he’s worshiped as Tenjin, the god of learning?

すごい話だね。つまり、今では学問の神「天神」として崇められているんだ？

I see! So besides Kitano Tenmangu and Dazaifu Tenmangu, are there other famous shrines for him?

なるほど！じゃあ、北野天満宮と太宰府天満宮以外にも、有名な神社はあるの？

That explains why I saw so many students there. I feel like I understand him a lot better now.だからあんなに学生がいたんだね！なんか、道真についてすごくよく分かったよ。

That sounds like a great idea!それ、いいね！

Who Was Sugawara no Michizane?
Sugawara no Michizane (845–903) was a famous scholar, poet, and politician from the Heian period in Japan. He was known for his intelligence, honesty, and love for learning. Today, he is worshiped as Tenjin, the god of learning, at many shrines across Japan.

菅原道真とは？
菅原道真（845–903）は、平安時代の学者・詩人・政治家 でした。彼は知性、誠実さ、学問への愛 で知られています。現在、日本全国の神社で学問の神「天神」 として祀られています。

Early Life and Education
Michizane was born in Kyoto in 845 into a family of scholars. From a young age, he was very talented in Chinese literature and poetry. At just 22 years old, he became Monjō Hakase, one of the highest-ranking scholarly positions in the Imperial Court. This position meant he was responsible for teaching future government officials.

幼少期と教育
道真は845年に京都で 学者の家系に生まれました。幼い頃から中国文学や詩 に優れた才能を持っていました。22歳のとき、彼は文章博士（もんじょうはかせ） という宮廷で最高レベルの学者の地位に就きました。この役職では、将来の官僚を教育する責任 も担っていました。

A Successful Politician
Michizane gained the trust of Emperor Uda and became a powerful government official. In 894, he stopped Japan’s missions to China (Tang Dynasty) because China was weak, and the journey was dangerous. This decision helped Japan develop its own unique culture. Later, he became Minister of the Right, one of the most important positions in the government.

政治家としての成功
道真は宇多天皇 の信頼を得て、重要な政府高官となりました。894年、彼は遣唐使（中国・唐王朝への外交使節）を廃止 しました。当時の中国は衰退し、旅が危険だったためです。この決定は、日本が独自の文化を発展させる きっかけとなりました。その後、彼は右大臣 に任命され、政府で最も重要な地位の一つを占めました。

Exile to Dazaifu
However, Michizane had powerful enemies. The Fujiwara clan, who controlled the government, saw him as a threat. In 901, they spread false rumors about him, and he was exiled to Dazaifu (Kyushu). He lived there in sadness and loneliness until his death in 903.

太宰府への左遷
しかし、道真には強力な敵 もいました。当時、政府を支配していた藤原氏 は、彼の存在を脅威に感じました。901年、藤原氏は偽の噂 を広め、道真を九州・太宰府へ左遷 しました。彼はそこで孤独と悲しみの中で生活し、903年に亡くなりました。

Legends After His Death
After his death, strange things happened in Kyoto—thunderstorms, lightning, and the sudden deaths of his enemies. People believed Michizane’s angry spirit was causing these disasters. To calm him, the emperor built Kitano Tenmangu Shrine in Kyoto, and he became a god of learning.
One famous story says his plum tree in Kyoto flew to Dazaifu because it missed him. This tree, called Tobiume (Flying Plum Tree), still exists at Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine today.

死後の伝説
道真の死後、京都では雷雨や落雷、彼の敵の突然の死 など、不思議な出来事が相次ぎました。人々はこれを、道真の怒れる霊 の仕業だと考えました。そこで天皇は彼を鎮めるために、京都に北野天満宮 を建立し、道真は学問の神 として祀られるようになりました。
また、有名な伝説として、彼の京都の梅の木が、道真を慕って太宰府へ飛んで行った という話があります。この梅の木は「飛梅（とびうめ）」 と呼ばれ、現在も太宰府天満宮 に残っています。

Worship and Shrines
Today, Michizane is worshiped at Tenmangu shrines across Japan. The most famous ones are Kitano Tenmangu (Kyoto), Dazaifu Tenmangu (Fukuoka), and Kameido Tenjin (Tokyo). Students pray to him for success in exams.

祀られる神社
現在、日本全国の天満宮 で道真は祀られています。特に有名なのは、京都の北野天満宮、福岡の太宰府天満宮、東京の亀戸天神社 です。学生たちは、試験合格や学業成就を祈願 するために訪れます。

Conclusion
Sugawara no Michizane was a brilliant scholar and loyal politician who suffered an unfair exile. His tragic story and deep love for learning made him a legendary figure in Japanese history. Today, he is remembered as the god of learning, inspiring students across Japan.

まとめ
菅原道真は、優れた学者であり、忠誠心のある政治家 でしたが、不当な左遷という悲劇に見舞われました。しかし、その学問への情熱と伝説 により、日本の歴史に残る伝説的な人物 となりました。現在でも学問の神 として崇められ、日本中の学生たちに影響を与え続けています。