Cleveland Museum of Art

Prince Shōtoku at Age Two (Shōtoku Taishi)

Date

early 1300s

Medium

Wood with lacquer, color, and rock-crystal inlaid eyes

Culture

Japan, Kamakura period (1185–1333)

Department

Japanese Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Two-year old Prince Shōtoku (573?–622?) places his palms together in a gesture called gasshō . Shōtoku played a major role in the introduction of Buddhism to Japan, and devotees of the prince commissioned painted and sculpted images commemorating important moments of his life. At age two, the prince faced east and chanted the name of the Buddha without having been taught the practice. This sculpture captures the fantastic event foreshadowing his future acts. Shōtoku Taishi had several titles. One translates to "the prince of the stable door" because he was said to have been born in the imperial stables.

The authoritative record is held by Cleveland Museum of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.