“Tenmangū,” Sugawara no Michizane as Tenjin Traveling to China 1800 - 1833

This is “Tenmangū, Sugawara no Michizane as Tenjin Traveling to China,” made by Sengai, during the Edo period in Japan. Sengai was a Zen Buddhist monk known for his playful and simple ink paintings. Here, we see Sugawara no Michizane, a Heian period scholar and poet, deified as Tenjin, the Shinto deity of scholarship. Michizane was exiled from the capital due to political maneuverings. In this image he is shown traveling to China, a metaphorical journey reflecting his complex identity as both a historical figure and a divine entity. The rough, bold brushstrokes give the figure a sense of immediacy. Sengai’s work often blends Zen philosophy with humor, challenging traditional representations of religious figures. There’s an emotional resonance in the way Sengai captures the essence of Michizane’s story, reflecting themes of injustice and resilience. Sengai invites us to contemplate the intersections of history, myth, and personal experience.