Illustrated biography of Prince Shotoku

This is a pictorial depiction of Prince Shotoku's life. It depicts various events in his life from birth to death, and includes explanations in writing such as kotobagaki (a traditional scripture) and shikishi (a colored paper). Documents show that there was already a mural of Prince Shotoku's Illustrated Biography in the Shitennoji Temple's Painted Hall in the late Nara period (Taishiden Kokin Mokuroku Sho). The oldest surviving relic is a shoji painting in the former Horyu-ji Temple Painted Hall, created in 1069 (Enkyu 1) (currently remodeled into a 10-panel frame; National Treasure; kept at the Tokyo National Museum), known to be the work of Hata Chishin (Chitsune). Although it has been repaired several times in later generations, the composition and design of the painting convey the original pattern, making it a valuable relic from the Heian period with a clear artist and date of production. From the Kamakura period onwards, as worship of Prince Shotoku flourished, many illustrated works were created in the form of picture scrolls and hanging scrolls. Among the relics are particularly well-known picture scrolls from Joguji Temple and Dohonke Temple, as well as scrolls from Shitennoji Temple, Tachibanadera Temple, Kakurinji Temple, and Hankyuji Temple.

[Yasushi Murashige]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

聖徳太子一代の伝記を絵画化したもの。誕生から薨去(こうきょ)に至る生涯のさまざまの事跡を描き、あるいは詞書(ことばがき)や色紙(しきし)形などの文字で説明を加えたもの。古くはすでに奈良後期に四天王寺の絵堂に太子絵伝の壁画があったことが文献からわかる（『太子伝古今目録抄』）。現存中最古の遺品は、1069年（延久1）につくられた旧法隆寺絵殿の障子絵（現在10面の額に改装。国宝。東京国立博物館保管）で、秦致真(はたのちしん)（致貞）の作と知られる。後世の補修が何度か加えられているが、画面の構成や図様は当初の模様を伝え、平安時代の、作者・制作年の明らかな遺品として貴重である。鎌倉時代以降は、太子信仰の隆盛とともに絵巻や掛幅などに数多くの絵伝がつくられた。遺品としては上宮寺、堂本家などの絵巻、また四天王寺、橘寺(たちばなでら)、鶴林寺(かくりんじ)、斑鳩寺(はんきゅうじ)などの諸本がとくに知られている。

［村重　寧］

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