Prince Shōtoku at Age Two (Shōtoku Taishi)
Unknown Artist
early 1300s
Medium
Wood with lacquer, color, and rock-crystal inlaid eyes
Dimensions
h. 68.6 cm
Classification
Sculpture
Department
Japanese Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. James Campbell Weir in memory of Dr. and Mrs. William Hawksley Weir
Accession Number
1989.76
About this artwork
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.