The Problematic Aspects of Shotoku’s Constitution in the Views of Historian Tsuda Sokichi

Abstract

        The importance of studying the topic of (The Problematic Aspects of Shotoku’s Constitution in the Views of Historian Tsuda Sokichi) comes from the fact that this constitution is considered to be the first in the history of Japan. The choice to study Shotoku’s constitution is because of the importance of this constitution in enriching Japan’s history; to be considered as the first constitution in Japan’s history, despite the fact that it was not written according to the modern notion of constitutions, as it did not contain what is considered fixed rules or administrative articles, and was not a fundamental law in the manner that we understand today, but it was closer to a series of principles and moral codes, urging people to sanctify the three Buddhist treasures (Buddha, the law, and the religious society). However, in principle, the seventeen-item constitution is a list of famous sayings taken from Confucianism, which specifies the general traits that an honest administrator should have.

The hypothesis we are going to discuss in this paper seeks to find the aim of writing Shotoku’s constitution. Has there been a dire need for a political reform in Japan? Was the goal from the constitution to reform religion through politics, or reform politics through religion? How did this constitution, which is the first political manuscript, reflect upon the Japanese intellect and culture?

The problematic aspects we shall try to highlight in this paper include why did Tsuda Sokichi doubt the character of prince Shotoku and his constitution? On what did Tsuda base his doubts? Was he right? Did Tsuda’s study of Shotoku’s character and his constitution have an effect in changing the historical views towards Shotoku’s constitution as a historical fact? All these questions will be answered in this paper.