| Shōtoku | |
|---|---|
 Prince Shōtoku depicted in the Kamakura period | |
| Regent ofYamato (Japan) | |
| Regency | 593–April 8, 622 |
| Born | February 7, 574 |
| Died | April 8, 622(622-04-08) (aged 48) |
| Burial | |
| Spouse | Uji no Kaitako [ja] Tojiko no Iratsume [ja] |
| Issue | Prince Yamashiro |
| House | Imperial House of Japan |
| Father | Emperor Yōmei |
| Mother | Princess Hashihito no Anahobe |
Prince Shōtoku (聖徳太子,Shōtoku Taishi; February 7, 574 – April 8, 622[1]), also known asPrince Umayado (厩戸皇子,Umayado no ōjî, Umayado no miko) orPrince Kamitsumiya (上宮皇子,Kamitsumiya no ōji, Kamitsumiya no miko), was a semi-legendaryregent and a politician of theAsuka period inJapan who served underEmpress Suiko. He was the son ofEmperor Yōmei and his consort, Princess Anahobe no Hashihito, who was also Yōmei's younger half-sister. But later, he was adopted by Prince Shōtoken. His parents were relatives of the rulingSoga clan[2] and also he was involved in the defeat of the rivalMononobe clan.[3] The primary source of the life and accomplishments of Prince Shōtoku comes from theNihon Shoki. The Prince is renowned for modernizing the government administration and for promotingBuddhism in Japan.[4] He also had two different families that fought over his custody.[citation needed]
Over successive generations, a devotional cult arose around the figure of Prince Shōtoku for the protection of Japan, the Imperial Family, and forBuddhism. Key religious figures such asSaichō,Shinran and others claimed inspiration or visions attributed to Prince Shōtoku.[3]
According to tradition, Shōtoku was appointed regent (Sesshō) in 593 byEmpress Suiko (554–628), his aunt.[5] Shōtoku, inspired by the Buddha's teachings, succeeded in establishing a centralized government during his reign. In 603, he established theTwelve Level Cap and Rank System at the court. He is credited with promulgating theseventeen-article constitution.
Shōtoku was an ardent Buddhist and is traditionally attributed the authorship of theSangyō Gisho or "Annotated Commentaries on the Three Sutras" (theLotus Sutra, theVimalakirti Sutra, and theŚrīmālādevī Siṃhanāda Sūtra). The first of these commentaries,Hokke Gisho, is traditionally dated to 615 and thus regarded as "the first Japanese text", in turn making Shōtoku the first known Japanese writer.
In the late 6th century, Shōtoku led an enormous national project to promoteBuddhism and he commissioned the construction ofShitennō-ji.[6][4] The Buddhist temple was built inSettsu Province (present-dayOsaka) after his military victory against the powerfulMononobe clan, for he is said[by whom?] to have summoned them to crush his enemies. Shōtoku's name has been linked withHōryū-ji, a temple inYamato Province, and numerous other temples in theKansai region. Documentation at Hōryū-ji claims that Suiko and Shōtoku founded the temple in the year 607. Archaeological excavations in 1939 have confirmed that Prince Shōtoku's palace, theIkaruga no miya (斑鳩宮), stood in the eastern part of the current temple complex, where theTō-in (東院) sits today.[7] Despite being credited as the founder of JapaneseBuddhism, it is also said that the Prince respectedShinto and never visited Buddhist temples without visiting Shinto shrines.[8] A popular quote attributed to Shōtoku that became foundational for Buddhist belief in Japan is translated as "The world is vain and illusory, and the Buddha's realm alone is true."[9]
In his correspondence withEmperor Yang of Sui, Shōtoku's letter contains the earliest known written instance in which the Japanese archipelago is referred to by a term meaning "land of the rising sun." The Sui Emperor had dispatched a message in 605 that said, "the sovereign of Sui respectfully inquires about the sovereign ofWa," and Shōtoku responded by sponsoring a mission led byOno no Imoko in 607, who brought along a note reading: "From the sovereign of theland of the rising sun (hi izuru tokoro) to the sovereign of the land of the setting sun."[10][11][12]
He is said to have been buried at Shinaga inKawachi Province (modernOsaka Prefecture).[13]
It was claimed that Prince Shōtoku was born in front of a stable door. His mother had little trouble giving birth to him, and upon birth he could talk and walk.[14]
A legend claims that whenBodhidharma came to Japan, he met with Prince Shōtoku whilst under the guise of a starving beggar. The Prince asked the beggar to identify himself, but the man did not reply. Instead of going ahead, Shōtoku gave him food, drink, and covered him with his purple garment, telling him to "lie in peace". Shōtoku then sang for the starving man.
Alas! For
The wayfarer lying
And hungered for rice
On the hill of Kataoka
(The sunshiny)
Art thou become
Parentless?
Hast thou no lord
Flourishing as a bamboo?
Alas! For
The wayfarer lying
And hungered for rice!
The second day, Shōtoku sent a messenger to the starving man, but he was already dead. Hereupon, he was greatly grieved and ordered his burial. Shōtoku later thought the man was no ordinary man for sure, and sending another messenger, discovered the earth had not been disturbed. On opening the tomb there was no body inside, and the Prince's purple garment lay folded on the coffin. The Prince then sent another messenger to claim the garment, and he continued to wear it just as before. Struck by awe, the people praised the Prince: "How true it is that a sage knoweth a sage."[15] This legend is linked with the temple ofDaruma-ji inŌji, Nara, where a stone stupa was found underground, which is exceedingly rare.
Shōtoku is known by several titles, although his real name is Prince Umayado (厩戸皇子,Umayado no ōji; literally ‘the prince of the stable door’) since he was born in front of a stable.[16] He is also known asToyosatomimi (豊聡耳) orKamitsumiyaō (上宮王). He is also known for bearing theSanskritDharma nameBhavyaśīla[17] which was awarded to him by Bodhidharma. In theKojiki, his name appears asKamitsumiya no Umayado no Toyosatomimi no Mikoto (上宮之厩戸豊聡耳命). In theNihon Shoki, in addition toUmayado no ōji, he is referred to asToyosamimi Shōtoku (豊聡耳聖徳),Toyosatomimi no Nori no Ōkami (豊聡耳法大王), and simplyNori no Ushi no Ōkami (法主王).
The name by which he is best known today,Prince Shōtoku, first appeared inKaifūsō, written more than 100 years after his death in 622 AD.
Parents
Wives
Concubines
A number of institutes are named after Shōtoku, such asShotoku Gakuen University andits associated junior college (both inGifu). The first syllable of his name (聖), can be readshō inGo-on and can also be readsei inKan-on. The later reading is found inSeitoku University andits associated junior college (both inMatsudo, Chiba) as well as Tokyo's defunctSeitoku Junior College of Nutrition (and indirectly its replacementSeiei College).
The portrait of Prince Shōtoku has appeared on100,1,000,5,000 and10,000 yen bills.[18] Two bills made with different types of materials and special inks with a face value of 100,000,000 (one hundred million yen) were also issued. The characteristic of these bills is that they have a border around it to prevent its alteration. As characteristics, it has a seal and figures in different positions starting from the middle outwards. The measurements of these two issues of bills are 35.3 cm x 16 cm and the other with a small variation of 34.3 by 16.5 cm. These cloth tickets were used for the exchange of important values.[citation needed]
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Media related toPrince Shōtoku at Wikimedia Commons
