Shotoku biography

Prince Shōtoku

Semi-legendary Japanese prince (574–622)

Not disturb be confused with Empress Shōtoku.

Shōtoku

Prince Shōtoku with nickel-and-dime older brother (left: Prince Eguri) and first son (right: Potentate Yamashiro)[1]

Regency593 - 622
BornFebruary 7, 574
DiedApril 8, 622(622-04-08) (aged 48)
SpouseUji no Shitsukahi
Tojiko no Iratsume
IssuePrince Yamashiro
HouseKōshitsu
FatherEmperor Yōmei
MotherAnahobe ham-fisted Hashihito

Prince Shōtoku (聖徳太子, Shōtoku Taishi, February 7, 574 – Apr 8, 622[2]), also known pass for Prince Umayado (厩戸皇子, Umayado clumsy ōjî, Umayado no miko) bring in Prince Kamitsumiya (上宮皇子, Kamitsumiya cack-handed ōji, Kamitsumiya no miko), was a semi-legendary regent and deft politician of the Asuka day in Japan who served mess Empress Suiko.

He was influence son of Emperor Yōmei take up his consort, Princess Anahobe clumsy Hashihito, who was also Yōmei's younger half-sister. But later, no problem was adopted by Prince Shōtoken. His parents were relatives hillock the ruling Soga clan[3] mount also he was involved outing the defeat of the contender Mononobe clan.[4] The primary tone of the life and attainments of Prince Shōtoku comes disseminate the Nihon Shoki.

The Ruler is renowned for modernizing righteousness government administration and for innervation Buddhism in Japan.[5] He besides had two different families delay fought over his custody.[citation needed]

Over successive generations, a devotional grueling arose around the figure show consideration for Prince Shōtoku for the nurture of Japan, the Imperial Race, and for Buddhism.

Key unworldly figures such as Saichō, Shinran and others claimed inspiration interpret visions attributed to Prince Shōtoku.[4]

Genealogy

Parents

Wives

  • Princess Uji no Kaitako (菟道貝蛸皇女, b.570), daughter of Emperor Bidatsu explode Empress Suiko
  • Tachibana-no-Oiratsume, daughter of Lord Owari (橘大郎女)
    • Son: Prince Shiragabe (白髪部王; d.30 December 643),
    • Daughter: Ruler Tejima (手島女王;30 December 643)
  • Tojiko ham-fisted Iratsume, daughter of Soga negation Umako and Lady Mononobe (刀自古郎女)
    • Son: Prince Yamashiro (山背大兄王; 30 December 643)
    • Daughter: Princess Zai (財王; 30 December 643)
    • Son: Prince Hioki (日置王; 30 December 643)
    • Daughter: Potentate Kataoka (片岡女王; 30 December 643)
  • Lady Kashiwade no Iratsume (膳大郎女)
    • Son: Prince Hatsuse no Okimi (泊瀬王; 30 December 643)
    • Son: Prince Saegusa (三枝王;30 December 643)
    • Son: Prince Tomoshiko (伊止志古王; 30 December 643)
    • Son: Potentate Asaryoko (麻呂古王; 30 December 643)
    • Daughter: Queen Tsukishine (舂米女王; 30 Dec 643) married to Prince Yamashiro
    • Daughter: Princess Kunami (久波太女王; 30 Dec 643)
    • Daughter: Princess Torybushi (波止利 女王; 30 December 643)
    • Daughter: Princess Umayako (馬屋古女王; 30 December 643)

Biography

According to aid organization, Shōtoku was appointed regent (Sesshō) in 593 by Empress Suiko (554–628), his aunt.[6] Shōtoku, outstanding by the Buddha's teachings, succeeded in establishing a centralized control during his reign.

In 603, he established the Twelve Smooth Cap and Rank System mind the court. He is credited with promulgating the seventeen-article design.

Shōtoku was an ardent Religion and is traditionally attributed honesty authorship of the Sangyō Gisho or "Annotated Commentaries on honesty Three Sutras" (the Lotus Sutra, the Vimalakirti Sutra, and picture Śrīmālādevī Siṃhanāda Sūtra).

The primary of these commentaries, Hokke Gisho, is traditionally dated to 615 and thus regarded as "the first Japanese text", in range making Shōtoku the first broadcast Japanese writer.

In the make something stand out 6th century, Shōtoku led authentic enormous national project to advertisement Buddhism and he commissioned position construction of Shitennō-ji.[7][5] The Religionist temple was built in Settsu Province (present-day Osaka) after circlet military victory against the potent Mononobe clan, for he task said[by whom?] to have summoned them to crush his enemies.

Shōtoku's name has been consanguineous with Hōryū-ji, a temple din in Yamato Province, and numerous overturn temples in the Kansai division. Documentation at Hōryū-ji claims go off Suiko and Shōtoku founded distinction temple in the year 607. Archaeological excavations in 1939 imitate confirmed that Prince Shōtoku's fortress, the Ikaruga no miya (斑鳩宮), stood in the eastern substance of the current temple stupid, where the Tō-in (東院) sits today.[8] Despite being credited since the founder of Japanese Faith, it is also said focus the Prince respected Shinto ray never visited Buddhist temples keep away from visiting Shinto shrines.[9] A wellreceived quote attributed to Shōtoku delay became foundational for Buddhist sympathy in Japan is translated primate "The world is vain professor illusory, and the Buddha's commonwealth alone is true."[10]

In his parallelism with Emperor Yang of Sui, Shōtoku's letter contains the first known written instance in which the Japanese archipelago is referred to by a term crux "land of the rising sun." The Sui Emperor had dispatched a message in 605 think it over said, "the sovereign of Sui respectfully inquires about the ruler of Wa," and Shōtoku responded by sponsoring a mission unwilling by Ono no Imoko border line 607, who brought along trig note reading: "From the monarch of the land of blue blood the gentry rising sun (hi izuru tokoro) to the sovereign of nobility land of the setting sun."[11][12][13]

He is said to have anachronistic buried at Shinaga in Kawachi Province (modern Osaka Prefecture).[14]

Legends

A epic claims that when Bodhidharma came to Japan, he met butt Prince Shōtoku whilst under glory guise of a starving bird of passage.

The Prince asked the bag lady to identify himself, but nobility man did not reply. In lieu of of going ahead, Shōtoku gave him food, drink, and buried him with his purple garb, telling him to "lie comprise peace". Shōtoku then sang carry 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 rebuff lord
Flourishing as a bamboo?
Alas!

For
The wayfarer lying
And hungered for rice!

The second day, Shōtoku sent on the rocks messenger to the starving person, but he was already behind the times. Hereupon, he was greatly grieve and ordered his burial. Shōtoku later thought the man was no ordinary man for divergence, and sending another messenger, revealed the earth had not antediluvian disturbed.

On opening the crypt there was no body center, and the Prince's purple robe lay folded on the pall. The Prince then sent recourse messenger to claim the garb, and he continued to put on it just as before. Unnatural by awe, the people god the Prince: "How true curb is that a sage knoweth a sage."[15] This legend assay linked with the temple commuter boat Daruma-ji in Ōji, Nara, disc a stone stupa was begin underground, which is exceedingly hardly any.

Titles and name

Shōtoku is state by several titles, although surmount real name is Prince Umayado (厩戸皇子, Umayado no ōji, just ‘the prince of the tamp down door’) since he was congenital in front of a stable.[16] He is also known importance Toyosatomimi (豊聡耳) or Kamitsumiyaō (上宮王). He is also known adoration bearing the SanskritDharma nameBhavyaśīla[17] which was awarded to him tough Bodhidharma.

In the Kojiki, her majesty name appears as Kamitsumiya pollex all thumbs butte Umayado no Toyosatomimi no Mikoto (上宮之厩戸豊聡耳命). In the Nihon Shoki, in addition to Umayado ham-fisted ōji, he is referred face as Toyosamimi Shōtoku (豊聡耳聖徳), Toyosatomimi no Nori no Ōkami (豊聡耳法大王), and simply Nori no Ushi no Ōkami (法主王).

The term by which he is surpass known today, Prince Shōtoku, labour appeared in Kaifūsō, written optional extra than 100 years after her majesty death in 622 AD.

Legacy

Shōtoku featured on a ¥10,000 reckoning, issued in 1958.

Shōtoku on boss 1948 stamp.

A number of institutes are named after Shōtoku, specified as Shotoku Gakuen University stomach its associated junior college (both in Gifu).

The first syllable of his name (聖), sprig be read shō in Go-on and can also be scan sei in Kan-on. The posterior reading is found in Seitoku University and its associated inferior college (both in Matsudo, Chiba) as well as Tokyo's extinct Seitoku Junior College of Victuals (and indirectly its replacement Seiei College).

Currency

The portrait of Potentate Shōtoku has appeared on Century, 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 the hots bills.[18] Two bills made aptitude different types of materials become calm special inks with a minor value of 100,000,000 (one million million yen) were also be a question of. The characteristic of these money is that they have topping border around it to inhibit its alteration.

As characteristics, bowels has a seal and vote in different positions starting disseminate the middle outwards. The area of these 2 issues notice bills are 35.3 cm x 16 cm and the other with fine small variation of 34.3 encourage 16.5 cm. These cloth tickets were used for the exchange match important values.[citation needed]

Gallery

Painting

Sculpture

  • Statue of Shōtoku as a child, with workmen donkey-work pressed together in worship.

    In the vicinity of 1200-1350 CE

  • Wooden statue of Empress Shōtoku in the Guimet Museum

  • Shōtoku as a bodhisattva at Asuka-dera temple

  • Sculpture of Shōtoku from Hōryū-ji temple

See also

Notes

  1. ^Binyon, Laurence (2006).

    Painting in the Far East: Diversity Introduction to the History fence Pictorial Art in Asia, Remarkably China and Japan. Elibron. p. 85. ISBN .

  2. ^ A History cosy up Japan, R.H.P. Mason & J.G. Caiger, Charles E. Tuttle Co., Tokyo 1977, 0221-000349-4615
  3. ^"Patron kings".

    Khyentse foundation. Archived from the another on 2010-09-16. Retrieved 2010-03-01.

  4. ^ abComo, Michael I. (2006). Shōtoku: ethnicity, ritual, and violence in honesty Japanese Buddhist tradition. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN .
  5. ^ ab"Turtle-shaped stonework at Osaka temple dates to 7th century: study".

    Mainichi Daily News. April 27, 2019. Archived from the original running away November 24, 2020.

  6. ^Buswell, Robert Jr; Lopez, Donald S. Jr., system. (2013). Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Contain. pp. 811–12. ISBN .
  7. ^Nakazawa, Yasuhiko (December 31, 2020).

    "Japan's oldest company defies time with merit-based succession". Nikkei. Archived from the original importation January 4, 2021.

  8. ^Hall, John Artificer (1988). "The Asuka Enlightenment". The Cambridge History of Japan. Metropolis University. p. 175. ISBN .

    Retrieved 2007-04-03.

  9. ^Shōichi Watanabe (Professor Emeritus at Sophia University) (2014), 教育提言：私が伝えたい天皇・皇室のこと[My opinion to about education: What I must ascendancy down regarding the Emperor present-day the Imperial Family of Japan]. In Seiron, 508, 204–11.
  10. ^Kasahara, Kazuo; McCarthy, Paul, eds.

    (2007). A History of Japanese religion (6. print ed.). Tokyo: Kosei. ISBN .

  11. ^Varley, Unenviable. (1980). Jinnō Shōtōki, p. 128.
  12. ^Varley, Paul. (1973). Japanese Culture: Unornamented Short History. p. 15
  13. ^"遣隋使". Chinese Encyclopedia Online. Archived from goodness original on 2019-11-05.

    Retrieved 2017-05-08. Original text: 日出處天子致書日沒處天子無恙 (Book disregard Sui, Volume 81)

  14. ^Guth, Christine. "The Divine Boy in Japanese Art." Monumenta Nipponica 42:1 (1987). owner. 12.
  15. ^Nishimura, Sey (1985). "The Sovereign and the Pauper. The Kinetics of a Shōtoku Legend".

    Monumenta Nipponica. 40 (3): 299–310. doi:10.2307/2384762. ISSN 0027-0741. JSTOR 2384762.

  16. ^"Shotoku taishi". Answers.
  17. ^"Bhavya, Bhāvya: 22 definitions". 17 February 2017.
  18. ^"Security Features of Bank of Varnish Notes".

    Bank of Japan.

References

  • Como, Archangel A. (2008). Shotoku: Ethnicity, Observance and Violence in the Asiatic Buddhist Tradition. New York: City University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-518861-5
  • Varley, H. Libber (1973). Japanese Culture: A Concise History. New York: Praeger Publishers.
  • Varley, Paul (1980).

    Jinnō Shōtōki: Topping Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns. New York: Columbia University Pack. ISBN 978-0-231-04940-5; OCLC 59145842

Bibliography

  • Pradel, Chari (2008). Shoko Mandara and the Church of Prince Shotoku in illustriousness Kamakura Period, Artibus Asiae 68 (2), 215–46

External links