31 Prince Shotoku Facts: A Spiritual Monarch From Japan!

Prince Shotoku Taishi, the second son of Emperor Yomei, was born on February 7, 574 CE in Japan.

Prince Shotoku is known as the founder of Japanese Buddhism and belonged to the Soga clan. He was the one who advocated the law to provide employment for people in forced labor only during seasonal times.

Prince Umayado meaning 'prince of stable door' and Prince Kamitsumiya are the other names by which he is well-known among Japanese people. He served under Empress Suiko.

He was the second son of Emperor Yomei and Princess Anahobe no Hashihito. They all belonged to the Soga clan. Prince Shotoku is also known to have defeated the Mononobe clan.

The bloody struggle started when Prince Shotoku was only 13 years old and Emperor Bidatsu died. The fight between the Soga clan and the Mononobe clan is well described in Japanese history.

Prince Anahobe and Mononobe no Moriya were killed by soldiers of the Soga. Much of the life of Prince Shotoku is known from the Nihon Shoki. For the defense of Japan, the Emperor Court, and Buddhism, a devotional cult grew around the image of Prince Shotoku over several centuries.

Important religious personalities, including Saicho, Shinran, and many others, reported receiving guidance or insights from Prince Shotoku. Prince Shotoku also sent many officials to learn from the cultures of China and Korea.

His idea of an imperial mission to China and Korea was a successful idea as he was aware of the fact that these countries were much more advanced in all aspects, be it culture, defense, or technology.

He wanted his team of officials to observe and learn from their culture and incorporate the most ideal ideas and principles into their government laws for the betterment of the country and its people.

Along with these, his well-known imperial mission notions included Kan-i 12 Kai (can rank system) and the Seventeen Article Constitution.

The government's support resulted in a confluence of Buddhist and Shinto beliefs, resulting in the distinctive Japanese Buddhism.

Pagodas ultimately absorbed Shinto shrines, resulting in Shinto visitors as well. There was a decrease in the appearance of Chinese cultural standards amid Japanese Buddhist traditions as the transformations eventually resulted in more acceptance of Japanese imperial authorities.

Prince Shotoku is recognized as the 'father of Japanese Buddhism' and the foundation of a consolidated monarchy since he was accountable for this merger. Emperor Yomei, also known as Prince Oe, and consort Princess Anahobe no Hashihito gave birth to Prince Shotoku at the imperial stable and reported no labor pains.

Prince Shotoku died on April 8, 622 CE.

The Legacy Of Prince Shotoku

Chinese religious traditions influenced him, hence, in Japanese Buddhist culture, Prince Shotoku Taishi is recognized because this prince regent helped in the spread of Buddhism as a religion in Japanese history. He was the founder of Japanese Buddhism. He supported Confucianism as well.

The Guardian of Buddhism, Shotoku Taishi transported the Shitennoji from Tamatsukuri to its current position in Osaka in the very first year of his rule. Many institutions have been named after Prince Shotoku, such as Shotoku Gakuen University and Seitoku University named after his later name.

The picture of Shotoku Taishi was also seen on yen bills of 100, 1000, 5000, and 10,000.

The 'Chronicle of Japan', also known as 'Nihongi', is written in Nihon Shoki, 720 CE, using China as a model, and details the public unrest about the death of Prince Shotoku Taishi. The streets were filled with lamenting sounds, and the young heavenly guardians of the imperial throne grieved the death as if they had lost their own father.

Empress Suiko, the first female monarch, ruled in her own different way after the death of Prince Shotoku Taishi, and his son would follow the continued spreading of Buddhism. The heir apparent was Umako, who is believed to have leadership qualities.

The Soga clan, Umako, is also believed to be behind the assassination of Emperor Sushun also known as Prince Hasebe.

Emperor Sushun ruled until 592 CE. Shotoku's enduring influence on Japan's development of governance and its development into a centralized government as contrasted to the earlier regime of contending clans subservient to the emperor's military force is summed up by WG Beasley, a historian.

During the Kamakura period, he was seen as an avatar of Buddha and a Buddhist saint-like figure. Prince Shotoku, the second son of Emperor Yomei, is still regarded as one of the forefathers of Japanese civilization, as well as one of the country's finest and smartest monarchs who did right by the official ranks and Buddhist priests.

Achievements Of Prince Shotoku

Prince Shotoku is known in Japanese history for the introduction of the Seventeen Article Constitution.

The Constitution of Prince Shotoku is also known as the Constitution of Seventeen Articles of the Constitution of Seventeen Injunctions (Jushichijo-Kenpo). In order to improvise the government of Japan by combining Confucian principles and Buddhist ideals, the constitution was written during the rule of the Soga clan. It was in operation until the seventh century.

There was the possibility of papers not being written by Shotoku but being rather influenced by him, and thus, after his death, they were published as a homage to him.

He became one of the historic figures and got a place in the upper palace as a sage statesman in the Japanese government of that era because he played a significant role in changing many reforms in the government.

The idea of clans played an important role, and only a clan could help to get a top place as a politician. In 604 CE, Prince Shotoku doubted the government's plans and hence bought into the Kan-i 12 Kai system (cap rank system).

The system ensured each 12 state officials wore caps of different colors which would help the official worker for the office to recognize the individual is working.

Regardless of clan or status, workers may become higher-ranking officials through this method. Prince Shotoku's initial initiative was to provide the monarch with exclusive authority over taxation, thereby, eliminating wrongdoing. He also continued deploying teams to China to enhance national, economic, and administrative exchanges. Shotoku also established the Japanese method of observation, which was based on  China's lunar calendar.

Diplomatic connections connecting Japan and China were established in 607, when Shotoku dispatched Ono no Imoko as a Japanese emperor's ambassador to Emperor Yang of the Sui dynasty, with the message 'The Emperor of the country where the sun rises greets the Emperor of the country where the sun sets.'

Religion And Prince Shotoku

In the sixth century CE, Buddhism was believed to be in Japanese society. Emperor Yomei formally embraced Buddhist teachings. He also emphasized Prince Shotoku's devotion to Buddhism in Article II of the Constitution of Emperor Yomei.

Forty-six Buddhist temples and monasteries were established when Japan was ruled by Prince Shotoku. Among the Buddhist temples and monasteries, the most important were Shitennoji, which was built in 593 CE to celebrate the return of the Soga clan to prominence, Hokoji, which was built in 596 CE, and Horyuji.

Horyuji was built in 607 CE and destroyed in 670 CE due to Japanese politics.

Again, the temple builders built it and it is the only one of the devout Buddhist temples from the Asuka Period. The compound has the ancient wooden buildings of Japan, as well as multiple posthumous pictures of the prince.

It consists of 48 historic buildings, including a five-story tower. In 593 CE, Prince Shotoku was declared the crown prince and was the Japanese regent or prince regent. Shotoku studied the Buddhist sutras: Shoman, Hokke, and Yuima.

Until his death, he sent many Japanese scholars to learn from Korean priests about their culture and Chinese priests to learn Chinese practice in regard to their religion and holy virtue. His main focus was on three treasures of Buddha: his teachings, and the priesthood.

It also raised the level of Japanese politics. Thus, Prince Shotoku no doubt helped spread Buddhism in Japan when he became the actual ruler.

Shotoku was said to have possessed the gift of foresight, to have heard the concerns of 10 men at the same time, and to have given such touching speeches that lotus blossoms showered down from the sky. As word of these stories spread, a cult sprung up around Shotoku's influence.

Sho-gi, which means lesser righteousness, was one of the grades among the 12 grades. With the help of a Korean priest, Kanroku, he adopted the lunar calendar of China to form Japan's own lunar calendar.