Customer Reviews

Sugawara no Michizane and the Early Heian Court

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The life of Sugawara no Michizane, who became a literary cult figure and then a deity in the Shinto faith in Japan, is one that's both a mixture of legend and fact, and Robert Borgen's biography does a very thorough, but engaging and readable exploration of the two, with emphasis on the factual side. Borgen contends that Michizane's accomplishments are sufficient as a historical person that they do not necessarily need deification, and he walks the reader through the life of Michizane exploring his background, family history, his poetry in various styles, and his final years before and after exile.

The book also provides a valuable reference on life in the early Heian Period, where most extant literature focuses on the latter years. Borgen shows how this early period was a time of transition, and Michizane was a product (and victim) of it. Topics explored are helpful for students, historians, or fellow Japanophiles like myself.

For a historical biography, one will be pleased to find how readable it is without sacrificing content. A thoroughly enjoyable read.