Michizane composes a poem about the moon

Sugawara no Michizane (845-903), also known as Kan Shōjō, was a well-regarded poet and politician at the Heian court. He wrote the poem on this print at age 11.

The moon glimmers like bright snow
and plum blossoms appear like reflected stars
ah! the golden mirror of the moon passes overhead
as fragrance from the jade chamber fills the garden

The legend is that Michizane fell out of favor at the court, and died a lonely death. His vengeful spirit was unleashed on his enemies in the form of lightning storms. His rank was posthumously restored, and he was deified as Shinto god of scholarship, Tenjin ( 天神).