Michizane was appointed a Japanese envoy to China in 894. It was called embassies to Tang China. It was important so much because the envoy always went to China with a lot of students. It was the only one opportunity for Japanese students to study abroad. But he suggested to the authorities the abolition of sending the envoy, because China had a civil war at that time. I'm not sure, but I think it might have been the An Lushan Rebellion from 755 to 763.

At the result, the system that had been continued for over 200years was abolished and he didn't go to China. Japanese history teachers teach in high school that Michizane thought it was important to build Japanese original culture more than to study Chinese culture.

Actually, after the abolition of embassies to Tang China, Japanese bureaucracy had been built. But it was just a result. I think he didn't want to go to China. And he has been respected by students preparing for an examination for long years.

Mchizane was appointed Minister of the Right in 899. It was as exceptional advancement. So he provoked antagonism of Fujiwara family and an academic clique. Through Japanese history, Fujiwara family has had political power.

Michizane was accused in 901, because he plotted the abdication of emperor. He was sent to Dazaifu, Fukuoka prefecture. It meant his downfall, and he died there after two years with his despair. There is his shrine in Dazaifu. Always a lot of students and their parent come there to wish the success of their examination to Michizane's spirit.

The play, "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami" was written based to the incident. In the play he was really innocent, and most Japanese think he was innocent. But historians haven't been saying that he was innocent clearly. Nobody knows the truth.

"Kochi Fukaba Nioi Okoseyo Ume-no Hana Aruji Nasitote Haruna Wasureso"

This is a poem he wrote. It's meaning like this. When the east wind has come, it means spring has come, he wishes flowers of plum trees that are in his garden not to forget to bloom unless he is there. He wrote it when he had to leave his house at the incident. At that time, he might have thought that it had been better to go to China.