Episode 99: The Prince of the Upper Palace
14th century painting of various episodes in the life of Shotoku Taishi. The fantastical story is illustrated in contremporary clothing and armor, not necessarily the clothing of the Asuka or even Nara period. Photo by author, taken at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
This episode we look again at the Crown Prince of Great Virtue, but try to look at some of his more historical alter egos and whether or not any of them might shed some light on the actual Prince.
The main image hall and pagoda of Hōryūji, the temple built on the site of Shōtoku Taishi’s Ikaruga Palace. Back in its day, the temple would have likely been painted bright red, white, and green. Photo by author.
Tenjūkoku mandala, housed in Chūgūji. It shows the Pure Land where Shōtoku Taishi went when he passed away. It is unclear which Pure Land, however (there are various ones described in different sutras).
References
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McCallum, Donald F. (2009). The Four Great Temples: Buddhist Archaeology, Architecture, and Icons of Seventh-Century Japan. ISBN 978-0-8248-3114-1
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