The Rebirth Legend of Prince Shōtoku: Buddhist Networks in Ninth Century China and Japan

Shōtoku Taishi’s 聖徳太子 reputation as the earliest major figure associated with Buddhism in Japan makes him a starting point for historical discussions on Japanese Buddhism, as well as on Sino-Japanese cultural interaction.¹ His reincarnation story is just one element in the extensive cult centred on this figure. In particular, the current paper focuses on the belief that he was the reincarnation of Nanyue Huisi (J. Nangaku Eshi) 南岳慧思 (515–577), who was the master of Tiantai Zhiyi 智顗 (538–597), the alleged founder of the Tiantai School. Hence, we will be shedding light, without regard to later sectarian boundaries, on