Artwork
聖徳太子絵伝図|Illustrated Biography of Prince Shōtoku (Shōtoku Taishi e-den)
聖徳太子絵伝図|Illustrated Biography of Prince Shōtoku (Shōtoku Taishi e-den) is an ink painting. It dates from 1316 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Together, these iconographic elements convey the work’s function as a visual biography that celebrates Shōtoku’s political authority and his spiritual legacy.
The hanging scroll portrays Prince Shōtoku engaged in a narrative that blends historical episode with Buddhist didactic imagery. He is shown in an interior setting, accompanied by a horse, while figures of men and women appear around him, emphasizing communal and spiritual dimensions. The inclusion of Buddhist symbols underscores the prince’s role as a patron of the faith and as a model of virtuous governance.
The scene’s battle element, rendered through dynamic composition, reflects his legendary military exploits, while the surrounding domestic details suggest the integration of Buddhist teachings into everyday life. Together, these iconographic elements convey the work’s function as a visual biography that celebrates Shōtoku’s political authority and his spiritual legacy.
Technique & Style
Created in 1316 by an anonymous Japanese artist, this work is executed as a hanging scroll. The piece utilizes ink and mineral pigments applied with gold on a silk support, a medium characteristic of high-status religious history painting from this period. As one of a pair of scrolls, it depicts narrative scenes involving Buddhism, battles, horses, and interior settings populated by male and female figures.
The integration of gold alongside ink and color on silk suggests a formal style intended to convey reverence and visual richness appropriate for illustrating the biography of Prince Shōtoku. The specific handling of these materials on the flexible silk surface allows for the detailed rendering of complex historical and spiritual episodes.
History & Provenance
The work, an ink, colored, gold-on-silk hanging scroll titled Illustrated Biography of Prince Shōtoku, was produced around 1316 in Japan by an anonymous painter. Its creation is documented in contemporary records as part of a series of narrative paintings depicting Shōtoku’s life and Buddhist themes. After its making, the scroll entered the collection of American philanthropist Louisine Havemeyer, who later bequeathed it to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on view.
The dating of 1316 is confirmed by catalog entries, and stylistic analysis places it within early Kamakura-period Buddhist art.
The painting is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection in New York. It entered the museum through the bequest of Louisine Havemeyer, though the specific inventory or accession number is not recorded in the available documentation. It is classified as a painting and belongs to the history_painting genre.
The sources do not mention any documented exhibition of this work within museum displays or external loans, indicating that its public display history is not described in the provided references.
Overview
This hanging scroll, titled Illustrated Biography of Prince Shōtoku (Shōtoku Taishi e-den), is one of a pair depicting the life of the revered Japanese statesman. Rendered in ink, color, and gold on silk, the artwork presents a densely populated scene. Prince Shōtoku is centrally positioned beneath a red canopy, observed by numerous courtiers, mounted warriors, and women in elaborate robes. The intricate composition captures a significant moment from his narrative, showcasing the detailed artistry of the period.
Artist & collection
Fifty-Four Scenes from The Tale of Genji
Autumn in the Mountains
The Tale of Taishokan
洛中洛外図屏風|Scenes in and around the Capital
Genre Scenes (Fuzoku byobu)
Untitled
Pastimes and Pleasures in the Eastern Hills of Kyoto
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「高陽院駒競行幸絵巻」『栄花物語』 断簡|"Imperial Visit to the Great Horse Race at the Kaya-no-in Mansion" from the Tale of Flowering Fortunes
Untitled
