Taishi Shōtoku was a political and cultural leader of the Asuka period and one of the most highly revered figures in all of Japanese history.
Background
Taishi Shōtoku was born on 7 February 574 in Yamato. His father was the thirty-first sovereign, Emperor Yomei; his mother was Empress Anahobe-no-hashibito.
The prince was named Umayado, or Horse Stable Door, reportedly because his mother, in the course of a walk about the palace grounds, gave birth to him when she reached the royal stables. The posthumous title Shotoku Taishi means Crown Prince of Holy Virtue.
Education
In his youth the prince studied Buddhism under Hyeja (Ehi), a monk from the Korean state of Koguryo, and Confucianism under a Korean scholar named Hakka (Kakuka). He proved to be a highly diligent and intelligent student and was said to have been widely read in both religious and secular works.
Career
In 592 the powerful government leader Soga no Umako ordered the assassination of the thirty-second sovereign Emperor Sushun. The latter was succeeded as ruler by Empress Suiko, the niece of Soga no Umako and aunt of Prince Shotoku, who thereupon became crown prince.He handled affairs of state in her place, guiding the imperial house through a period of particular difficulty.
In 589 the Sui dynasty had succeeded in uniting all of China under its rule, while on the Korean peninsula the state of Silla, which had earlier overthrown Japan’s ally Imna, continued to grow in power. The prince considered Sending an army to attack Silla and attempt to restore the state of Imna, but nothing came of these plans; instead he concentrated his attention upon internal affairs.
He died in 622 and was entombed at Shinaga in the province of Kawachi.
Religion
He announced that the Buddhist religion should be the foundation of the state, and to this end founded various temples such as Shitenno-ji in present- day Osaka, Koryu-j i in present-day Kyoto, and Horyu-ji and Chiigu-ji in the Nara area. Horyu-ji, which was founded in 607, continues in existence today in close to its original form and constitutes an invaluable example of Asuka period Buddhist architecture. The prince also engaged in the study of Buddhist texts and produced gisho (commentaries), which are still extant, on three major Mahayana sutras, the Lotus Sutra, Vimalaklrti Sutra, and the Sutra of Queen Srimala.
Politics
On the political scene, the prince in 603 established a system of twelve cap-ranks for court officials. The purpose of this was to encourage the recognition of individual talent in the government and counteract the emphasis that had hitherto been placed upon family and clique connections.
Personality
By encouraging Buddhism, he no doubt hoped to promote social harmony and morality. At the same time he helped to advance the level of learning and art in Japan and to make the Asuka period one of the most brilliant eras in Japanese culture.