The Theory of Emperor Shotoku - Jōgu Shōtoku Hōō Teisetsu

A collection of biographical materials on Prince Shotoku collected by monks at Horyu-ji Temple before the mid-11th century. 1 volume. The only old copy is currently in Chion-in Temple's possession. It is divided into sections that record the genealogy of Prince Shotoku, his main undertakings, the inscriptions on the statues of Yakushi and Shaka in the Golden Hall of Horyu-ji Temple and the inscriptions and annotations on the Tenjukoku embroidery scroll, historical facts related to the prince, the reigns, deaths and tombs of the five emperors starting with Kinmei, and the prince's birth and death dates. The inscription on the back contains an article about the founding of Yamada-dera Temple. Some of these articles are known only from this book, such as versions that differ from those in the Nihon Shoki (the introduction of Buddhism in 538, the death of the prince at midnight on February 22, 622, etc.), and the inscription on the Tenjukoku embroidery scroll, making it a valuable historical resource. There are copies made by the Society for the Preservation of Classics, copies of Gunsho Ruiju, copies of the Complete Collection of Buddhist Literature in Japan, and copies of the Complete Works of Prince Shotoku.

[Mikiya Hayashi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

11世紀中ごろ以前に、法隆寺僧によって収集された、聖徳太子の伝記史料集。1巻。知恩院現蔵のものが唯一の古写本。聖徳太子関係の系譜、太子のおもな事業、法隆寺金堂の薬師(やくし)・釈迦(しゃか)像銘と天寿国繍帳(てんじゅこくしゅうちょう)銘とその注釈、太子関係の史実、欽明(きんめい)以下5天皇の治世・崩年・陵、太子の生年・死去の年月日、を記す部分に分かれ、その裏書には、山田寺の創建に関する記事がみえる。これらの記事のなかには、『日本書紀』と異なる所伝（仏教伝来538年、太子の逝去622年2月22日夜半など）や天寿国繍帳銘など、本書によってのみ知られるものを含み史料的価値は高い。古典保存会の複製本、『群書類従』本、『大日本仏教全書』本、『聖徳太子全集』本がある。

［林　幹彌］

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