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Japan: Prince Shotoku flanked by younger brother (left: Prince Eguri) and first son (right: Prince Yamashiro), c.8th century.

Prince Shotoku (Shotoku Taishi, 574–622), also known as Prince Umayado, was a regent and a politician of the Asuka period in Japan. He was a member of the ruling Soga clan. Shotoku was appointed as regent (Sessho) in 593 by Empress Suiko. Shotoku, inspired by Buddha's teachings, succeeded in establishing a centralized government during his reign. In 603, he established the 12 official ranks at court. He is credited with promulgating a Seventeen-article constitution. The Prince was an ardent Buddhist and composed commentaries on the Lotus Sutra, the Vimalakirti Sutra, and the Sutra of Queen Srimala. He commissioned the Shitenno-ji Temple in Settsu province (present-day Osaka). Shotoku's name has been linked with Horyu-ji, a temple in Yamato province. Documentation at Horyu-ji claims that Suiko and Shotoku founded the temple in the year 607. Archaeological excavations in 1939 have confirmed that Prince Shotoku's palace, the Ikaruga-no-miya, stood in the eastern part of the current temple complex, where the To-in sits today. China's Sui Emperor, Yangdi, dispatched a message in 605 that stated: 'The sovereign of Sui respectfully inquires about the sovereign of Wa'. Shotoku responded by sponsoring a mission led by Ono no Imoko in 607. The Prince's own message contains the earliest written instance in which the Japanese archipelago is named 'Nihon', literally, sun-origin (country). The salutation stated: 'From the sovereign of the land of the rising sun (nihon/hi izuru) to the sovereign of the land of the setting sun'. He is said to be buried at Shinaga, in the former Kawachi province (today Osaka prefecture).

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Title:

Japan: Prince Shotoku flanked by younger brother (left: Prince Eguri) and first son (right: Prince Yamashiro), c.8th century.

Caption:

Prince Shotoku (Shotoku Taishi, 574–622), also known as Prince Umayado, was a regent and a politician of the Asuka period in Japan. He was a member of the ruling Soga clan. Shotoku was appointed as regent (Sessho) in 593 by Empress Suiko. Shotoku, inspired by Buddha's teachings, succeeded in establishing a centralized government during his reign. In 603, he established the 12 official ranks at court. He is credited with promulgating a Seventeen-article constitution. The Prince was an ardent Buddhist and composed commentaries on the Lotus Sutra, the Vimalakirti Sutra, and the Sutra of Queen Srimala. He commissioned the Shitenno-ji Temple in Settsu province (present-day Osaka). Shotoku's name has been linked with Horyu-ji, a temple in Yamato province. Documentation at Horyu-ji claims that Suiko and Shotoku founded the temple in the year 607. Archaeological excavations in 1939 have confirmed that Prince Shotoku's palace, the Ikaruga-no-miya, stood in the eastern part of the current temple complex, where the To-in sits today. China's Sui Emperor, Yangdi, dispatched a message in 605 that stated: 'The sovereign of Sui respectfully inquires about the sovereign of Wa'. Shotoku responded by sponsoring a mission led by Ono no Imoko in 607. The Prince's own message contains the earliest written instance in which the Japanese archipelago is named 'Nihon', literally, sun-origin (country). The salutation stated: 'From the sovereign of the land of the rising sun (nihon/hi izuru) to the sovereign of the land of the setting sun'. He is said to be buried at Shinaga, in the former Kawachi province (today Osaka prefecture).

Credit:

Album / Pictures From History/Universal Images Group

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Image size:

3417 x 5042 px | 49.3 MB

Print size:

28.9 x 42.7 cm | 11.4 x 16.8 in (300 dpi)

Keywords:

ASIA PICTURES • ASIA • ASIAN IMAGE • ASIAN IMAGES • ASIAN PICTURES • ASIAN • CHINA • CHINE • CHINESE • HISTORIA UNIVERSAL • HISTORICAL IMAGES • HISTORICAL PICTURES • HISTORICAL • HISTORY IMAGES • HISTORY PICTURES • HISTORY • HORYU-JI • JAPAN • JAPANESE • NIHON • PORCELAIN • REGENT • RISING SUN • RULER (POLITICAL) • RULER • RULERS • SESSHO • SHÔTOKU • SOVEREIGN (RULER) • SOVEREIGN • SUIKO