, also known as or , was a semi-legendary regent and a politician of the Asuka period in Japan who served under Empress Suiko. He was the son of Emperor Yà Âmei and his consort, Princess Hashihito no Anahobe, who was also Yà Âmei's younger half-sister. But later, he was adopted by Prince Shà Âtoken. His parents were relatives of the ruling Soga clan and also he was involved in the defeat of the rival Mononobe clan. The primary source of the life and accomplishments of Prince Shà Âtoku comes from the Nihon Shoki. The Prince is renowned for modernizing the government administration and for promoting Buddhism in Japan. He also had two different families that fought over his custody.
Over successive generations, a devotional cult arose around the figure of Prince Shà Âtoku for the protection of Japan, the Imperial Family, and for Buddhism. Key religious figures such as Saichà Â, Shinran and others claimed inspiration or visions attributed to Prince Shà Âtoku.
According to tradition, Shà Âtoku was appointed regent (Sesshà Â) in 593 by Empress Suiko (554âÂÂ628), his aunt. Shà Âtoku, inspired by the Buddha's teachings, succeeded in establishing a centralized government during his reign. In 603, he established the Twelve Level Cap and Rank System at the court. He is credited with promulgating the seventeen-article constitution.
Shà Âtoku was an ardent Buddhist and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Sangyà  Gisho or "Annotated Commentaries on the Three Sutras" (the Lotus Sutra, the Vimalakirti Sutra, and the à ÂrëmÃÂlÃÂdevë Siá¹ÂhanÃÂda Sà «tra). The first of these commentaries, Hokke Gisho, is traditionally dated to 615 and thus regarded as "the first Japanese text", in turn making Shà Âtoku the first known Japanese writer.
In the late 6th century, Shà Âtoku led an enormous national project to promote Buddhism and he commissioned the construction of Shitennà Â-ji. The Buddhist temple was built in Settsu Province (present-day Osaka) after his military victory against the powerful Mononobe clan, for he is said to have summoned them to crush his enemies. Shà Âtoku's name has been linked with Hà Âryà «-ji, a temple in Yamato Province, and numerous other temples in the Kansai region. Documentation at Hà Âryà «-ji claims that Suiko and Shà Âtoku founded the temple in the year 607. Archaeological excavations in 1939 have confirmed that Prince Shà Âtoku's palace, the , stood in the eastern part of the current temple complex, where the Tà Â-in () sits today. Despite being credited as the founder of Japanese Buddhism, it is also said that the Prince respected Shinto and never visited Buddhist temples without visiting Shinto shrines. A popular quote attributed to Shà Âtoku that became foundational for Buddhist belief in Japan is translated as "The world is vain and illusory, and the Buddha's realm alone is true."
In his correspondence with Emperor Yang of Sui, Shà Âtoku's letter contains the earliest known written instance in which the Japanese archipelago is referred to by a term meaning "land of the rising sun." The Sui Emperor had dispatched a message in 605 that said, "the sovereign of Sui respectfully inquires about the sovereign of Wa," and Shà Âtoku responded by sponsoring a mission led by Ono no Imoko in 607, who brought along a note reading: "From the sovereign of the land of the rising sun (hi izuru tokoro) to the sovereign of the land of the setting sun."
He is said to have been buried at Shinaga in Kawachi Province (modern Osaka Prefecture).
It was claimed that Prince Shà Âtoku was born in front of a stable door. His mother had little trouble giving birth to him, and upon birth he could talk and walk.
A legend claims that when Bodhidharma came to Japan, he met with Prince Shà Âtoku whilst under the guise of a starving beggar. The Prince asked the beggar to identify himself, but the man did not reply. Instead of going ahead, Shà Âtoku gave him food, drink, and covered him with his purple garment, telling him to "lie in peace". Shà Âtoku then sang for the starving man.
The second day, Shà Âtoku sent a messenger to the starving man, but he was already dead. Hereupon, he was greatly grieved and ordered his burial. Shà Âtoku later thought the man was no ordinary man for sure, and sending another messenger, discovered the earth had not been disturbed. On opening the tomb there was no body inside, and the Prince's purple garment lay folded on the coffin. The Prince then sent another messenger to claim the garment, and he continued to wear it just as before. Struck by awe, the people praised the Prince: "How true it is that a sage knoweth a sage." This legend is linked with the temple of Daruma-ji in à Âji, Nara, where a stone stupa was found underground, which is exceedingly rare.
Shà Âtoku is known by several titles, although his real name is since he was born in front of a stable. He is also known as or . He is also known for bearing the Sanskrit Dharma name Bhavyaà Âëla which was awarded to him by Bodhidharma. In the Kojiki, his name appears as . In the Nihon Shoki, in addition to Umayado no à Âji, he is referred to as Toyosamimi Shà Âtoku (è±Âè¡è³èÂÂå¾³), Toyosatomimi no Nori no à Âkami (è±Âè¡è³æ³Â大çÂÂ), and simply Nori no Ushi no à Âkami (æ³Â主çÂÂ).
The name by which he is best known today, Prince Shà Âtoku, first appeared in Kaifà «sà Â, written more than 100 years after his death in 622 AD.
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Concubines
A number of institutes are named after Shà Âtoku, such as Shotoku Gakuen University and its associated junior college (both in Gifu). The first syllable of his name (èÂÂ), can be read shà  in Go-on and can also be read sei in Kan-on. The later reading is found in Seitoku University and its associated junior college (both in Matsudo, Chiba) as well as Tokyo's defunct Seitoku Junior College of Nutrition (and indirectly its replacement Seiei College).
The portrait of Prince Shà Âtoku has appeared on 100, 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 yen bills. Two bills made with different types of materials and special inks with a face value of 100,000,000 (one hundred million yen) were also issued. The characteristic of these bills is that they have a border around it to prevent its alteration. As characteristics, it has a seal and figures in different positions starting from the middle outwards. The measurements of these two issues of bills are 35.3 cm x 16 cm and the other with a small variation of 34.3 by 16.5 cm. These cloth tickets were used for the exchange of important values.