Prince Shōtoku was a regent and a politician of the Asuka period in Japan who served under Empress Suiko. He was the son of the Emperor Yōmei and his consort, Princess Anahobe no Hashihito. The Prince is renowned for modernizing the government administration and for promoting Buddhism in Japan.

Shotoku codified the Annotated Commentaries on the Three Sutras starting in 615 AD, making him the first known Japanese writer. He is also responsible for being the first to refer to Japan as the Land of the Rising Sun.

This large sculpture, from my grandfather’s personal collection, dates to the late 1600’s and is 19 inches high x 8 inches wide x 6 inches deep. It features exceptionally intricate carving and polychrome paint, which has fading throughout and some chips. The statue’s foot is chipped in one area. The base is not original to the piece.