The Prince and the Monk addresses the historical development of the political and religious myths surrounding Sho?toku Taishi and their influence on Shinran, the founder of the Jo?do-Shinshu? school of Pure Land Buddhism. Sho?toku Taishi (574 622) was a prince who led the campaign to unify Japan, wrote the imperial constitution, and promoted Buddhism as a religion of peace and prosperity. Shinran s Buddhism developed centuries later during the Kamakura period, which began in the late twelfth century. Kenneth Doo Young Lee discusses Shinran s liturgical text, his dream of Sho?toku s manifestation as Kannon (the world-saving Bodhisattva of Compassion), and other relevant events during his life. In addition, this book shows that Shinran s Buddhism was consistent with honji suijaku culture the synthesis of the Shinto and Buddhist pantheons prevalent during the Kamakura period.
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