Portrait of Prince Shotoku (aged 14) as a Pilgrim

Object Details

• Label

  In the mid-sixth century, the Korean kingdom of Paekche petitioned an alliance with Japan. Two powerful Japanese clans, the Mononobe and Soga, vied for power, and after years of contention the Soga emerged victorious. A Soga, Suiko (554-628), was installed in 592 as empress of Japan; her nephew Prince Shotoku (Shotoku Taishi, 574-622) became regent and was an effective administrator who implemented pragmatic legal codes that encouraged centralization among Japan's many clans. Although he was a devout Buddhist, Shotoku nevertheless understood religion as a tool for state unification and a vehicle of continental culture.

  A cult of Prince Shotoku developed soon after his death and became particularly strong in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, a period of political and social unrest. Shotoku was evoked as a national founding figure and understood as a manifestation of various bodhisattvas (enlightened beings). In this unusual image, Shotoku wears the monk's robe and carries the attributes associated with Jizo Bosatsu, but retains his traditional, easily recognizable hairstyle. The resultant image suggests a melding of national and spiritual savior roles.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Facing East: Portraits from Asia (July 1 to September 4, 2006)

  Telling Tales in Japanese Art (November 23, 1996 to August 14, 1997)

  Portraiture from Japan (July 1, 1983 to April 5, 1984)

  Japanese Art (April 11, 1978 to March 6, 1981)

  Chinese and Japanese Art--Lacquer and Paintings (August 18, 1967 to October 14, 1969)

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1400s, 1300s

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Prince, Art, Muromachi period (1333 - 1573), Pilgrimage, Japanese Art, Portraits, Kakemono

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Paintings