There is no better indication of Prince Shôtoku’s continuing fame than his appearance on the old ten-thousand yen note, making his face perhaps the most familiar in Japan. The comparison with George Washington is obvious and quite revealing. Prince Shôtoku is indeed seen by Japanese as a sort of father of his country, a great statesman who emerged in a period of internal strife and foreign threat to lead the nation. One great difference, however, is that while Washington relied on military leadership, Prince Shôtoku was a dedicated pacifist and relied on the continental ideals of Confucianism and Buddhism.

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