Prince Shōtoku and Calligraphy — The Power of Writing in Harmony with Buddhism

Prince Shōtoku (Umayado no Ōji) was not only a political and religious pioneer but also a key figure in the development of Japan’s written culture and, by extension, Japanese calligraphy. While modern audiences may focus on the beauty and artistry of calligraphy, in Shōtoku’s time, the act of writing carried a far greater weight — it was a mission to define the spirit of a nation.

When Buddhism was introduced to Japan, understanding and transmitting its teachings required a strong command of Chinese characters and the ability to copy texts accurately. To promote the Buddhist faith, Prince Shōtoku studied many sutras and wrote his own commentaries, the most notable being the Hokke Gisho. Each stroke in this manuscript was imbued with a sincere wish to convey the Buddha’s teachings faithfully. Writing, in this context, was far more than a clerical task — it was a spiritual offering.

Prince Shōtoku clearly understood that writing was a tool to convey ideology. The famous phrase “Harmony is to be valued,” which opens the Seventeen-Article Constitution, continues to resonate today because it was committed to paper, preserved, and passed down through the ages. His innate grasp of the expressive power of writing gave it the enduring influence it holds in Japanese culture.

In Shōtoku’s era, the concept of "calligraphy" as fine art did not yet exist in Japan. However, his belief in writing as an expression of the soul and state laid the philosophical foundation for the later Japanese notion that “calligraphy reflects the person” (Sho wa hito nari). To write was not simply to arrange characters; it was to reveal one’s heart and conviction. This idea has remained at the core of Japanese calligraphy for over a thousand years.

Prince Shōtoku ground his ink, lifted his brush, and carved meaning into every character — to unify his nation, to spread the Dharma, and most importantly, to instill a culture in which the spirit could be transmitted through writing.

Even today, when we write each character with care, a quiet but powerful will — passed down from Shōtoku’s time — still breathes through the strokes.