The Prince and the Monk: Shotoku Worship in Shinran's Buddhism

The Prince and the Monk addresses the historical development of the political and religious myths surrounding Shoµtoku Taishi and their influence on Shinran, the founder of the Joµdo-Shinshuµ school of Pure Land Buddhism. Shoµtoku Taishi (574–622) was a prince who led the campaign to unify Japan, wrote the imperial constitution, and promoted Buddhism as a religion of peace and prosperity. Shinran’s Buddhism developed centuries later during the Kamakura period, which began in the late twelfth century. Kenneth Doo Young Lee discusses Shinran’s liturgical text, his dream of Shoµtoku’s manifestation as Kannon (the world-saving Bodhisattva of Compassion), and other relevant events during his life. In addition, this book shows that Shinran’s Buddhism was consistent with honji suijaku culture—the synthesis of the Shinto and Buddhist pantheons—prevalent during the Kamakura period.