Prince Shotoku ~ most famous and mysterious person ~



image of Prince Shotoku
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Sh%C5%8Dtoku

Do you know Prince Shotoku?
Maybe, most Japanese people and some non-Japanese people know about his name or picture or history. But he might not be Prince Shotoku like we know.

History  &   Contribution

Prince Shotoku (A.D. 574-622) was the son of Emperor Yomei, became prince of Emperor Suiko who is his aunt. He was appointed as regent (Sessho) in 593 by her. This later, he was an important politician of the Asuka Period in Japan who served under her by 622 when he died. In 603, he established the Twelve Level Cap and Rank System at the court. This system allowed for promotion based on merit and  individual achievement. Next year, he promulgated a Seventten-article constitution. This document focused on the morals and virtues that were to be expected of government officials and the emperor's subjects to ensure a smooth running of the state, where the emperor was to be regarded as the highest authority.
  He was also developed the a system of trade roads, sent Ono no Imoko to China as an emissary to bring in the Chinese cultures and political systems. Besides, he inspired Buddha's teaching (Bukkyo), commissioned the Shitennou-ji temple and Horyu-ji temple.
  Having established the new cap and rank system, having promulgated the first constitution in Japan, Prince Shotoku succeeded in establishing a centralized government during his reign. So in Japan, he is better known today than any other great persons.

Secrets  &  Mysteries

  Prince Shotoku often is regarded as a super star due to his contribution. However there are many secrets or mysteries about him. First of all, his name, "Prince Shotoku" is not his real name. In fact, he probably wasn't called Prince Shotoku in his lifetime. His real name is "Prince Umayato". This name was inspired because it was said that his mother gave birth to him in front of a stable door. "Umayato" is quite different from "Shotoku" because Shotoku consists of "sho" which means a man as saint and "toku" which means having virtue.
  He also was the first man who established a Japanese embassy in China, which allowed for harmony between the countries. He aimed to make Japan strong and be on equal terms with Emperor of China.
  However, some scholars suggest that Prince Shotoku (Prince Umayato) was not a real person, but a fabulous person. Evidence indicates that the primary source of the life and accomplishments of him came from the Nihon Shoki which  is the second oldest book of classical Japanese history written by Prince Toneri 100 years later from his death, and that its auther was likely to alter the history and to invent Prince Shotoku's life.
  If you become interested in Prince Shotoku, please  investigate his secrets or mysteries.

History of Japanese

Japanese have lived in the islands of Japanese for about 10,000 years.
I'll tell you about history of Japanese briefly.

 Ancient people made groups of twenty or thirty and lived together, hunting elephants or deers and picking shellfish or nuts. Their ranks were equal without distinction between the rich and the poor.
 About 3,000 years ago, people began to farm rice. Difference in society between the rich and the poor has arisen, so people's ranks were not equal and leaders emerged from groups. Leaders ruled their group and its surrounding groups, made nations.
 Leaders were called Gouzoku (powerful family) in the 4th century. The most powerful Gouzoku was Mikado. Mikado and some strong nobles governed people for 700 years from 5th century to 12th century.    
 In the early of 7th century, Prince Shōtoku who was Mikado's nephew succeeded in establishing a centralized government during his reign. The first permanent capital was founded at Nara in the early of 8th century, which became a center of Buddhist art, religion and culture. About 80 years later, Emperor Kammu shifted his capital from Nara to Heian-kyō.
 In the middle of 10th,  the samurai emerged, especially Kammu Heishi(Taira clan) and Seiwa Genji(Minamoto clan) were powerful clans. In the end of 12th century, Minamoto no Yoritomo who is the leader of Seiwa Genji won Kammu Heishi and established the supremacy of the samurai caste and the first bakufu (shogunate) at Kamakura.
 After the Kamakura shogunate was overthrown, Ashikaga clan established the shogunate at Muromachi. But after Ashikaga Yoshimitsu who is 3rd shogun died, the power of Muromachi shogunate became weak. So local daimyō, each with his own force of samurai, fought for supremacy each other. Those who won this fight were Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu. In the early of 17th century, Tokugawa Ieyasu established the last shogunate at Edo(Tokyo). The Edo Period had lasted for 250 years peaceably.
 In the middle of 19th century, the Tokugawa shogunate was overthrown and the supremacy of the samurai caste was lost by those seeking to return political power to the Mikado. They established new government at Tokyo. They attempted to make Japan very strong like the U.S. or the U.K.  Itō Hirobumi who is one of them established the constitution. Japan had the great force of warriors in the end of 19th century.
 After Pacific War was ended, Japan was transformed into a peaceful and democratic nation. 10 years later, it enjoyed very high economic growth rates, and became a world economic powerhouse, especially in automobiles and electronics. Nowadays, economic stagnation is a major issue, with an earthquake and tsunami in 2011 causing massive economic dislocations.


The above explanation is compact, so if you want to know history of Japanese, please click the below URL.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e641.html

I will introduce you to each of 8 persons whose name are written by boldface from the next time.