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Illustrated Biography of Prince Shotoku

Illustrated Biography of Prince Shotoku. Culture: Japan. Dimensions: Overall: 67 5/8 x 33 1/4in. (171.8 x 84.4cm) Overall with mounting: 106 x 40 1/2 in. (269.2 x 102.9 cm) Overall with knobs: 106 x 43 1/4 in. (269.2 x 109.9 cm). Date: 14th century. Prince Shotoku (574?-622), a fervent champion of Buddhism against the often fierce opposition of the hereditary clans in charge of Shinto ritual, was venerated within a century after his death as an incarnation of the historical (Shakyamuni) Buddha. Tales of his miraculous life, inspired by narratives of the life of the Buddha, were painted in temples and shrines and included among the parables told by priests. These tales played a major part in the spread of popular Buddhism in medieval Japan. As a paragon of Buddhist virtue from a time before sectarianism, Shotoku appealed to many practitioners of the faith. This pair of hanging scrolls depicts sixty-two episodes from Shotoku's life, drawing parallels between him and Shakyamuni Buddha. For instance, while the Buddha's mother, Queen Maya, had a vision of Shakyamuni as a white elephant with six tusks, Empress Hashihito (d. 665) dreamed of her son Shotoku in the guise of a golden monk. Episodes are illustrated neither chronologically nor in an orderly spatial sequence; events that took place in the same location are, however, arranged closely together. Inscriptions in white cartouches are therefore included to identify each scene.
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Title:
Illustrated Biography of Prince Shotoku
Caption:
Illustrated Biography of Prince Shotoku. Culture: Japan. Dimensions: Overall: 67 5/8 x 33 1/4in. (171.8 x 84.4cm) Overall with mounting: 106 x 40 1/2 in. (269.2 x 102.9 cm) Overall with knobs: 106 x 43 1/4 in. (269.2 x 109.9 cm). Date: 14th century. Prince Shotoku (574?-622), a fervent champion of Buddhism against the often fierce opposition of the hereditary clans in charge of Shinto ritual, was venerated within a century after his death as an incarnation of the historical (Shakyamuni) Buddha. Tales of his miraculous life, inspired by narratives of the life of the Buddha, were painted in temples and shrines and included among the parables told by priests. These tales played a major part in the spread of popular Buddhism in medieval Japan. As a paragon of Buddhist virtue from a time before sectarianism, Shotoku appealed to many practitioners of the faith. This pair of hanging scrolls depicts sixty-two episodes from Shotoku's life, drawing parallels between him and Shakyamuni Buddha. For instance, while the Buddha's mother, Queen Maya, had a vision of Shakyamuni as a white elephant with six tusks, Empress Hashihito (d. 665) dreamed of her son Shotoku in the guise of a golden monk. Episodes are illustrated neither chronologically nor in an orderly spatial sequence; events that took place in the same location are, however, arranged closely together. Inscriptions in white cartouches are therefore included to identify each scene.
Technique/material:
One from a set of 2 hanging scrolls; ink, color, and gold on silk
Period:
Kamakura period (1185-1333)
Museum:
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA
Credit:
Album / Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY
Releases:
Model: No - Property: No
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Image size:
2484 x 4400 px | 31.3 MB
Print size:
21.0 x 37.3 cm | 8.3 x 14.7 in (300 dpi)
Keywords:
ASIA • ASIAN ART • GOLD • HANGING SCROLLS • INK • JAPAN • KAMAKURA PERIOD (1185-1333) • METAL • METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART, NEW YORK, USA • ONE FROM A SET OF 2 HANGING SCROLLS; INK, COLOR, AND GOLD ON SILK • PAINTINGS • SCROLL PAINTINGS • SCROLLS • SILK • TEXTILES: SILK