HAA Docents’ Newsletter December, 2008 In this issue Holiday Luncheon Phone number - cut and save Honoring Hannelore Notes More Docent Profiles Feature Article – Prince Shitoku

ANNUAL DOCENT HOLIDAY LUNCHEON December 10, 11:30 a.m. at the Oahu Country Club WHEN WE CELEBRATE LET’S HELP THE CFS SHELTER Donation chair, Hannelore Herbig says, “Thank you so much for the many gifts you have provided for our Christmas project. If you have not helped out yet, there is still time to contribute before or at the luncheon. A creative idea: Kaui Philpotts donated a new Coby 7" Digital Photo Frame (retail $78). She gave me permission to turn it into cash. A friend of mine gave me a new green linen dress (classic style) size 12. I'm looking for someone to make a cash donation for ether item, so that we can make purchases for the shelter such as notebooks, towels etc. Anyone interested could find a bargain gift and help with a good cause. If you are interested call or e-mail me.” Donations will be accepted by Hannelore at the holiday luncheon. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -clip and save - - - - -- - - - -

ESSENTIAL PHONE NUMBERS Dial 3660 AT THE FRON DESK FOR LAST MINUTE ISSUES before a tour (leave a message if no answer) Someone is always in Education by 8:00 a.m. but they may be setting up for tours. They check the recording because they will hear the special ring. 532-3660 – FEELING SICK the morning of a tour – be sure to leave a message. ALSO call 532-8700 after 8:00 so the receptionist can alert the waiting docents 532-8700 – IF YOU ARE RUNNING LATE - the receptionist can let the correct folks know 532-3681 - Maikai - schedule a tour for an organized group you are bringing to the Academy 532–3621 - Aaron - sign up for a tour–better yet email [email protected] 532-8728 - Kita - route information 532-8792 - Erin - Ambassador tour, AEP, MEP questions 532-3623 - Ginger - “gallery sitting” schedule 532-3623 - Carolyn - money matters 532-3666 - Betsy - any docent, MLC or general museum concern - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -clip and save- - - - - -

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A HUGE MAHALO TO HANNELORE HERBIG AS SHE TURNS OVER THE TOUR AND TEA KEYS Our sincere thanks to Hannelore Herbig the person who has been the heart of our successful Tour and Tea program for five years. She has decided it’s time to turn over the leadership role to others. Tour and Tea began as a way to encourage more people to linger in the museum in the afternoons. The initial twice-weekly program was so wildly successful that a third day was added under Hannelore’s leadership. Hannelore promises to continue to conduct tours. If you wish to join the Tour and Tea program contact Betsy.

NOTES NEW TOUR FORMATS - Jan Tucker Several of our tours have been revamped with different featured artwork and activity components added to them. With our 'Animals in Art' (1.5 hrs. Pre K - 3rd grades) the required artwork is 'Animals in Hunting', 'The Children of Duc de Bouillon', 'Nandi's Head', and the 'Dragon' in the Korean gallery. The activities include mosaic making, exploring the five senses, classifying animals and hunting for animals throughout the tour. With our longstanding 'Colonial America' tour, (2 hrs, 5th grade) our featured art is 'Portrait of Nathaniel Allen', 'Cauterskill Falls on the Catskill Mountains', 'Tambour Secretary - Front Desk and Bookcase' and 'View of Fireplace'. Along with the weaving, trying on of clothing and exploring the fireplace, a new ‘Mission’ discovery activity has been added upstairs. In Gallery 12, the students divide into groups and explore the art for themselves using instructional cards, and then share with the group. Even with the extended halfhour added to this tour, time flies and the children are excited like never before. For 'Stories in Art' (1.5 hrs 4-6 grades) formerly known as 'Myths and Legends', the 'Sarcophagus Relief Depicting Labors of Hercules, Ganesha, the Indonesian masks and the 'Hawaiian Troubador' are our required art to share with the students. One of the activities involving the masks is a 'Snapshot' of the students’ interpretation of a self chosen mask’s character. In Holt the tour activity allows the children to create stories as if they were the troubadour, the lei maker or the fisherman (in the Walden, Hawaiian Fisherman). Another fun activity is for the children to work as a group to come up with ADJECTIVES beginning with the letters in the name of an artwork, i.e., Ganesha G(good), A(active), N(nosey), E (excited), S(sacred), H(heavy) and A(axe-holding). With any of the galleries used in this tour, dramatic storytelling can be used to grab the students' interest. All of this information and much, much more can be found at haaedu.org. Click on Tour Information, click again on the Docent Guide for the tour in which you are interested. (You may need to scroll down to find the tour you’re after.). Most of the pieces used are familiar to us, but if you haven't tried out the new activities, make an appointment with one of your fellow docents to follow a tour to see how the tours have been enriched. Winter 2008 Docents’ Newsletter

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WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT TOURS NEED DOCENTS? It’s easier now First go to haaedu.org, then click on the last choice – Tour Schedule – then click on the words at the end of the sentence: “To view the current tour schedule click here.” We no longer are required to type that long sign in to view the tour schedule. Now then, once on the tour page, to see only available tours, type the word NEED into the Search Entries box at the top. An added bonus, to see the tours for which you are signed up, type your name in the Search Entries box.

CHARLENE HUGHES IN THE NEWS Hooray!! This is the quilt "Amino Acids--Building Blocks of Life." Purchased by the State Foundation of Culture and the Arts. I look stunned in the photo because I AM! Aloha, Charlene Hughes September 2008 and

Colonial Dress Be sure to notice this new "high fashion" which is from the Federal period worn by Charlene Hughes. She’s the Colonial lady who teaches the loom wearing a new dress. It’s on loan to her because of the kindness of Mission Houses Museum director David de la Torre and curator Elizabeth Nosek.

DOCENT ROOM COMMITTEE MEETING, SEPTEMBER 2008 1. Bulletin Boards: Place materials in the envelope hanging from the board for Eleanor Jamieson to post. Include the date and highlights. 2. Policy on accepting materials: Accepting materials for the docent library may be considered in the future, but not for now. The Committee lacks the volunteer staff and space and suggests that your donations be made directly to the Allerton Library. 3. Suggestion Box: Pam Honbo will route the suggestions and concerns. 4. DVD Binders: Current programs, exhibits and gallery walks will be placed in one inch binders, while the rest of the DVDs will be stored in the three inch binders. 5. The Committee appreciates your assistance in: a) Turning the light off whenever no one remains in the Docent Room. b) Using bookmarkers before pulling books from shelves. This will help maintain the categorical and alphabetical arrangement of the system. c) Writing in the RETURN DATE for DVDs. 6. Docent Room Orientation: Arrange with Joyce Azama if you are interested.

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THE ADOPT-A-GALLERY PROJECT IS TAKING A HIATUS – Mif Flaharty The project isn't dead, but it is moribund, so we are going to preserve what has been accomplished and hope to find new leadership next year. The effort all committee members put into collecting and creating the binders in the first place was considerable and has real value---docents make good use of the materials. Yet, despite many appeals for help made through last year's newsletter, in various emails, and at docent room orientations, the only interest was a few of the new docents--and they can't serve before next June. So it was decided that we would keep the Master Tour Guide (with the new school tours) going, as well as the "Special Exhibits" binder...and docents are encouraged to look for labels on the website rather than in the gallery binders. Next June, we will attempt to revive the binders in some form that will meet the needs of our fellow docents. Your suggestions for changes and/or people to take the helm would be appreciated. And, most of all, thanks for the wonderful work you put into the creation of these resources.

Museum Closed for Academy Holidays January 1 January 21 March 31 May 26 June 9 July 4 August 18 September 1 October 13 November 10 November 27 December 25

New Year’s Day Martin Luther King Day Kuhio Day Memorial Day Kamehameha Day Independence Day Statehood Day Labor Day Columbus Day Veteran’s Day Thanksgiving Christmas The

Docent Council Officers Chair, Cathy Levinson Vice Chair, Jan Tucker Secretary, Marilyn Smith Treasurer, Jill Clapes Newsletter Editor, Anna Hoover

Docent Newsletter Article Guidelines (a call for travel articles) Docent Newsletter is a publication of the Docent Council. The next issue of the Docent Newsletter will be published early in the new year. It will be devoted to docent travel. Docents are invited to submit unformatted articles to the Newsletter Editor, Anna Hoover, by mail or e-mail [email protected] by mid-January. Please write up the travels and attach a digital image if you wish. Articles for any newsletter should focus on topics of interest to all docents and should not duplicate material available in the Academy’s Calendar News or on the Docent web site. Articles may be edited for length and content. There is no guarantee that a submitted article will be published. Articles that are not published will be placed in a binder in the docent room for reference. Adapted from the Summer 2002 Docent Newsletter

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DOCENT PHOTOS AND BIOS Another in our series of docent photos and bios highlighting one long time docent.

Jean Culbertson, class of 1976, was born in San Francisco. She went to elementary school in Berkeley and then to Smith College. She joined the OSS and helped watch foreign nationalities in San Francisco by going to press conferences held by various groups airing complaints and just generally keeping track of ethnic groups that gathered in San Francisco. She and her parents found ways to go to UN committee meetings and social gatherings once by invitation of a special friend. Years later when Jean was in Europe showing her growing children the UN, who should she see but that friend from San Francisco and once again was invited to visit the UN. Jean was a stay-at-home mom She married Tom when he came back from WWII and he went back to architecture that he had majored in during college. They lived in Pasadena, Berkeley, and Orinda before moving to Honolulu in 1969. She immediately volunteered at the Academy and filled many vital volunteer positions in the Café. She chaired the Academy’s Volunteer Council for two years. She then joined the docent class of 1975/76.

Joyce Azama, class of 2004, says, “My interest in art began when as a second grade student at Royal School in Honolulu, my classroom participated in a painting session at the HAA. My work was one of many selected to represent art by children of Hawaii for an around the world tour. Years later, this interest was enhanced when as UH students, my sister and I enrolled in a 4week Art & Architecture Study Tour of Europe. Duane Preble was one of the faculty who lead this trip! After teaching for 25 years in Southern California, Sapporo, Japan, and Honolulu and with interruptions in employment with the Hawaii Lt. Governor’s Office, with the Honolulu City Council, and with a chemical firm in Tokyo, I interviewed for the docent training position. Little did I then know that I would establish a first name relationship with my former Roosevelt High School teacher, Millie Liu! In the 70’s, the year before Hokulea’s maiden voyage to Tahiti, 3 friends and I sailed a yacht from the Ala Wai to Papaette, Tahiti. We realized the vastness of the Pacific Ocean when on the 21st day at sea; we dropped sails and motored into Papaette

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Dorothy Bicks, class of 2004, is a Canadian import and has lived in Hawaii for 41 years. She was a clinical nurse specialist in orthopedics at Queen's and an alumnus of the University of Hawaii. She retired 5 years ago to embark on a new careerdocenting at HAA. Otherwise, she studies French, enjoys swimming, and loves entertaining her two "toto" pups. She says she loves to study art and be a docent!!

Margaret Chase, Class of 2004, says, “With the exception of the first 28 years of my life, I have lived in amazing places. My first big move came one snowy day after I had maneuvered my way through 27 freeway accidents including an overturned milk truck on my way to teach sixth graders in Willoughby, Ohio. Things could only get better! I loaded as much of my stuff as I could onto a Greyhound bus for a three-day-cross-country odyssey to attend graduate school in San Francisco. I knew the trip and the painful leaving were worth it when I saw the colors -- incredible blue sky against the golden brown dotted with green of California summer! It seemed like paradise even though people were wearing winter coats in June. Unfortunately getting a job in S.F. wasn't as easy as Ohio. I finally had to "settle" for teaching reading in the Monterey School System and living on the ocean in Carmel with three roommates. It never snowed, but we did have 40 days of steady rain and began assigning the sixth graders to ark building and the fifth to animal collecting. I had to get used to the same weather forecast -overcast until noon then clearing. High 60-65. It was tough! After I met my husband in a psych class, we got married as a tourist attraction in the Carmel Mission. Then I got pregnant, we bought a house, he got promoted to a job in S.F., we sold the house (one month!), and moved next to Golden Gate Park in S.F. Lovely but very foggy! Our wonderful daughter was a year and a half old when a job offer came for Japan and off we flew. My husband was not impressed with the back streets on our ride to the army base, but I could hardly wait to explore. As our daughter grew up, I had my dream job teaching outstanding Japanese students with extensive overseas experience at Sophia University. Twenty-seven years later my husband retired and applied for a job in Hawaii. We were amazed that he got it. Living here has provided an unbelievable chance to study at U.H. on the senior program. I can fill in the gaps in my education and have the blue skies and the ocean too!

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Manu Chakravartty, class of 2004. Never say 'Never' in a way; I am re-living history with the Obama victory, for I relate easily to his background! There are others who did not grow up in any one place or in only one culture! Who would have thought I would be living in Hawaii. It has been difficult for me to answer the question "where are your from" and I have come up with new explanations every time! Let me try again and let you decide: born in British India, in Lahore (now Pakistan); raised in Bombay (now Mumbai); attending a ZBMM (Zanana Bible Medical Mission) missionary school named after Queen Mary; completing my Cambridge Overseas High School Certificate from a school run under tents in New Delhi after the partition of India; finally landing up at Presidency College in Calcutta (Kolkata) to complete my BA (Hons) degree in English when all along I had thought I was going to be a doctor! I went off to England for a couple of years to seek a future, but returned to India to pursue one with my first serious attempt at a career in marketing and advertising in Calcutta. Soon the ‘wheels’ (chakra) on my feet next took us (by now I had a husband and our first child) to Mumbai, where I continued my 'career' in advertising. I had to give that up to be a 'corporate wife' as my husband's career took us to New York, New Delhi, Madras, Nairobi, Libreville and finally back to the USA and we landed up in Westport, CT - all in the space of 7 years! Never thought I would, but I finally joined the United Nations, and after some 20 odd years ended my 'career' there as a Political Officer and moved to join my husband in Hawaii. This has become our new 'home' while we travel between the East Coast and India regularly to be with our scattered family. On retirement, one of the most difficult things one faces is what to choose to do next! Or does one need to do anything at all, specially living in paradise! Joined the docenttraining program at the Academy. I now divide my time between docenting and traveling, and find one complements the other! I am sending this from Collate where we shall be for the next few months - till springtime, and send all of you a very warm aloha with our 'namaste'. Jill Clapes, class of 2004, says “For the last two years I have had the honor to serve on the Docent Board as Treasurer and prior to that, two years as Hospitality Chairman. My professional life seems to have prepared me for the opportunity and great enjoyment I receive from being a Docent. Before coming to Hawaii, was on the staff of the Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, serving as public relations Director. Prior to that I was an elementary school teacher. My life has always been filled with painting and art and it is with pleasure I am now able to pursue many classes at the local universities and Linewoman. I have shown in galleries around town as well as our Docent Art Exhibit, "Eye of the Beholder".

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Roger Couture, class of 2004, grew up in Berlin, New Hampshire, traveled to Madison, Wisconsin via a four-year stint in the USAF. He remained in Madison and was employed with Oscar Mayer through their Machine Department for the next 35 years. Much traveling was involved in the later years. Since retirement travels far and wide are still part of his life. Another volunteer interest is with the Honolulu zoo and involvement with the African savanna since 1999. He joined the HAA docent program through interest in the subject matter and a willingness to share. A little known fact about Roger would be that his other life included hunting, fishing and boating, skiing (snow and water).

Gerhild Daida, class of 2004 says, “I grew up in Austria, have a business degree from a college there, moved to Germany, worked for Lufthansa German Airlines (10 years), traveled the world, came to Hawaii in 1979, retired from the airlines after 25 years in 1995, and worked in retail for the next 10 years. Currently I'm taking care of an Alzheimer's patient who is also my friend. My tenant, Jim Poulin,, was a docent at HAA. He talked me into applying for the docent program during lunch with Karen and some other docents. I love animals and going to the opera.

Anna Hoover was born in Deadwood, South Dakota, but grew up on the west coast. Strongly influenced by her missionary/humanitarian father who worked with U.S. Indian communities, she would later champion specific environmental protection projects with the League of Women Voters. She then turned to working on the personal staff of several local politicians. After retiring Anna walked into the Academy to see if she could volunteer and another passion took hold. Working at the front desk, she witnessed docent excitement and enthusiasm as well as those successful tours. It was all so totally about LEARNING! At this point Anna decided there was indeed a “life on the other side of the front desk”, and was accepted into the docent class of 2004.

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Cathy Levinson, class of 2004, grew up as an Army brat and especially loved living in Salzburg and Copenhagen. She lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for high school, college and nine years of teaching fourth and fifth grades. When she married Francis Izumi in 1978, she says she also married Hawaii, the legal community, and his Hawaiian and Japanese heritage. As Francis’ law office manager, she closed down his law corporation after his sudden death in March 1999. In February 2000, she took his ashes to Punchbowl, the next day met Jill Clapes, the following day bumped into her recently widowed friend Steve Levinson, and turned to art classes at Linekona to heal and redefine her identity. She and Steve married in 2001. After a Café lunch with our Linekona classmate Mary Flynn, Mary dragged Jill and me down to the Education office to register for the next docent training class…. Patricia Li, class of 1983, says, “I work full time for the Department of Education. I LOVE docenting when I can find time...usually weekends or last minute emergencies....when I can use my" flex time. I graduated from College of Notre Dame, Belmont, and did my master graduate level work at the University of California, Berkeley. I after raising my three children and volunteering as a soccer coach, scout leader, room mother in public and private schools and traveling all over this island. I have taught art from K-adult as well as English for grades 7, 8 and 9th grades; public and private. I was born in Charlottesville, Virginia, raised in Washington State. My education was parochial and included a year in the convent. My island husband and I met at a dance in college in California and we celebrate 45 years of marriage. We have five grand children and never miss their sports and special events. My main hobby is LIFE and LOVE.... I am a twice cancer survivor. Martin “Mac” McMorrow, class of 2004, says, “Before becoming a non-goal orientated member of society I worked as a professional engineer with the USEPA and US Navy. As a citizen sailor I retired as a Captain in the US Naval Reserve. I received two degrees from the University of Hawaii in what was then called sanitary engineering. From that field it was a natural jump to becoming a docent at the Honolulu Academy of Arts. I think I had always felt I was an art major in a sanitary engineer’s body. My hobby is photography. I can proudly say my work has been exhibited at the Unitarian Church on the Pali beside the art of several prominent HAA docent artists. With my jobs I have traveled to the South Pole, Aleutian Islands, Indian Ocean, the Pacific Islands and countries in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. With my lovely and tolerant wife Sharron McMorrow we have added Europe and South America to my travel check list. I was born in Hilo, Hawaii but moved to Oahu during the war. I may in fact be the rightful heir to the throne of the sovereign nation of Hawaii in light of my mother having over 120 percent Hawaiian blood. But, that is a story for another docent newsletter. Winter 2008 Docents’ Newsletter

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Jim Marsh, PhD, class of 2004, says, “I am a Professor Emeritus of Marine Biology at the University of Guam and have lived in Hawaii since 1998. For several years after coming to Hawaii I worked parttime on a research project in the UH Department of Oceanography but switched from left-brained to right-brained activity when I started HAA docent training in 2002. I completed training with the Class of '04 and have led more than 50 tours each of the last four years. I have served on the Docent Room Committee for the last two years and am presently on the nominations committee. Besides my interests in art and science, I enjoy frequent foreign and domestic travel.

Steve Miller: class of 2004, says, “I grew up in Southern California. My BA in Physics is from Occidental College in LA, MD from Stanford, and I was a Public Health Service general doctor with the Eskimos in Alaska for two years. My career developed as an eye surgeon (ophthalmologist) with a sub-specialty in Retinal Surgery for severe diabetic eye disease, trauma, etc. I was head of the Eye Department at Kaiser-Permanente for many years as well as financial VP of the medical group. After retiring, my wife, Linda, recommended I try docenting and I love it. I play piano and harpsichord in a small chamber group--strictly for fun. For 20 years, I have traveled 4-6 weeks a year to teach surgery and medical management to help found eye hospitals in many countries (India, China, Tibet, Cambodia, Nepal, Tanzania, Egypt)

The SEVA Foundation (www.SEVA.org) with which Steve Miller works has trained the surgeons doing half the eye surgery in Tibet and 25% of the eye surgery in Cambodia. SEVA means service in Sanskrit. I can vouch that most of the donations go directly for doing good. Our mission is to train and equip people so they can be self supporting from small patient fees by doing high quality, efficient, high volume operations among the poorest of the poor. A recent new partner is Mohammed Unas, the Nobel Peace Prize winner, in Bangladesh (micro lending) to help train the staff for his new eye hospitals and village eye clinics as self-supporting businesses. Check out the SEVA Foundation website to give a "Gift of Service" for the holidays. Instead of another shirt to Uncle John give him a cataract operation on a blind lady in Tibet!! Or training of a midwife in Guatemala!! Or a well to get clean water in Mexico!! He gets a nice card; professionals get trained in lasting skills, and very poor people (less than $200 a year income) get literally life-saving treatments. - Steve Miller

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John Pearson, class of 2002, was born in Dublin, Ireland, but educated from age six in England. After University, he would arrive in the U.S in 1954 to work as an intern in Brooklyn, New York. After anesthesia training in North Carolina and Brooklyn, he worked for seven years in Baltimore, Maryland, at Hopkins & the University of Maryland. Then, after a speaking engagement in Hawaii in 1966, he took a position with the University of Hawaii in Okinawa for three and a half years. He then came to Hawaii in 1971 and entered private practice and as a professor with the University of Hawaii. Retiring in 1987, his talents have turned to a brilliant research/writing project for his three sons as a bridge to their paternal Irish history through the centuries. ART? John remembers a modest interest in Sir Kenneth Clark’s lectures at Oxford. This modest interest has now gone full tilt since docent training in 2002.

Kaui Philpotts, class of 2004, is an author who was formerly a feature writer at the Maui News and the Honolulu Advertiser. Kaui’s earlier books include: Floral Traditions at the Honolulu Academy of Arts; Great Chefs of Hawaii; Hawaiian Country Tables; and Hawaii a Sense of Place, written with Mary Philpotts McGrath. Her latest book is Party Hawaii: A guide to Entertaining in the Islands.

Fred Smith, class of 2004, says that he was born long long ago in a land far away. Many years later he set sail for parts unknown and eventually was cast upon the shores of Hawaii, where he took root and grew into a somewhat fully formed writer and public relations person, managing to wander with more frequency then he might have liked into Naval engagements, university sit-ins, presidential inaugurations and resignations, failed attempts to get his music to the Broadway stage, and other moments of crisis. He also sired four children with his lovely if long-suffering wife Marilyn. The combination of all these experiences ultimately led him to conclude that if he could do all that stuff, he probably could be a docent, too. And that is why he is with us.

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Marilyn Smith, class of 2004, grew up and attended high school and college in Oregon. She met and married Fred in Honolulu and has lived here more than 50 years. They raised four sons on Oahu; two of them still live here. She spent the last 15 years of her working life as the vice-president of a swimming pool construction company. They spent twelve years on the Big Island, which they loved, but returned here to dive into volunteer work and be closer to the kids.

Jan Tucker, class of 2002, says, “After graduating from Texas Wesleyan University with a degree in Political Science I moved to Hawaii for what I thought would be a year or two of adventure. Thirty years have since passed wherein I worked as a legal secretary, managed a land use office, taught in Japan and worked at Hawaiian Airlines before marrying and having two sons. Since motherhood I have found job security in volunteerism. Besides enjoying the challenges and rewards of HAA tours, I find pleasure in homemaking, gardening, reading and taking long walks in Manoa Valley. My first loves are my husband Corey and our two sons, who are seventeen and twenty years old. I am originally from Texas but have been in Hawaii since graduating from college. I also volunteer at Punahou School and in the Manoa Valley community.” Carolyn Whitney, class of 1991, says, “Born in Kansas City, Missouri, I discovered the wonder of art appreciation at Smith College. Returning home allowed the opportunity to serve as a docent at the Nelson-Atkins Museum for several years. My husband and I came to Hawaii 44 years ago and with many volunteer jobs, I awaited the opportunity to train for a Docent position at HAA, in 1990. (At that time it was nine years between training classes!) Am I ever glad I waited. Such pleasure and challenge for me and I hope for some of those in my tours.”

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SHOTOKU TAISHI AS A YOUNG MAN Japan 17th Century Sculpture Lacquered wood (1804.1) One of the most influential rulers of ancient Japan, Shotoku (574 – 622) sent envoys to China and brought Chinese artists, craftsmen and clerks to Japan. He promoted Buddhism and Confucianism and constructed many Buddhist temples including Horyuji in Nara. (gallery label)

Shotoku Taishi (The Holy Virtuous), the second son of Emperor Yomei (died 787), is pictured in many ways. This is one of the most popular styles, sometimes called the Loyalty or 16-year-old picture. The piece shows him making a votive offering and prayer for the recovery of his sick father, Emperor Yomei. Shotoku Taishi is often considered as an incarnation of Monju, god of wisdom in the Buddhist pantheon. This standing figure of Shotoku Taishi, in lacquered wood with his hair parted in middle and looped over the ear has glass eyes. His left hand is closed as if holding a lotus flower and the right hand, palm up, as if holding treasure ball. A scarf is attached over the right shoulder by a strap with rings. The over-garment with wide-open sleeves opens in front to show a panel of vestment with a round neck, narrow gold lacquered collar, and a medallion on the chest, ending in a curve near the feet showing a reddish undergarment. The border floral and foliated scroll designs are in gray. We find designs of dragon, birds and flowers in gray and the diaper pattern on plain parts of black ground. The surface is somewhat dulled by a film possibly caused by burning of incense. Source: Accession card, September 1953 Diaper Patterns p. 117 – Chinese Symbolism and Art Motifs 1974 Summery: The Chinese have a dislike for bland undecorated spaces in their works of art. There are numerous intricate and diversified designs – often of a conventional and symbolic type. Many are of very ancient origin and may be traced to the primitive nature worship of the people in distant ages. The most frequently seen in ancient and modern art is commonly known as the meander or keypattern. Chinese call it the “thunder pattern” To an agricultural people such as the Chinese this signified the thunder that announces the “downpour that brought the heaven-sent gift.” Many designs adorning the clothing provide symbolism, i.e. Swallow – Chinese – success approaching or prosperous change; Dove – Chinese – long life or filial duty Chrysanthemum – Japan – the rising sun in conventional form Source: Chinese Symbolism and Art Motifs

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And, from in the notebook compiled for the October, 2008 docent tour, Kyoto and Beyond, the following article was drawn from Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan and A Traveller's History of Japan:

PRINCE SHOTOKU (574-622) As regent for empress Suiko, Prince Shotoku exercised political leadership, instituting such measures of the “twelve cap ranks” and the Seventeen-Article Constitution (604) in order to centralize the government and strengthen the authority of the imperial institution. Devoted to Buddhism, he sought to extend its religious and civilizing influence. The inauguration of the twelve cap ranks was Shotoku’s first administrative achievement. Although the new system did not apply to the imperial family and certain favored clans, tribal chieftains in service to the court were ranked on a completely new basis. Lineage groups now were defined on a purely individual basis rather than status. One could aspire to a higher rank. And by conferring each rank in the name of the emperor, Shotoku hoped to convert tribal chieftains into faithful public servants of the emperor. The Seventeen Article Constitution is less a constitution in the modern sense than a list of moral maxims, but it still deserves its name that literally means “splendid decree”. Rather than first among equals, the ruler was henceforth to be indisputably supreme and referred to as Tenno--Heavenly Sovereign. All citizens, including the great clan leaders, were his subjects and owed him obedience. In the religious sphere Buddhism should be revered and in the moral, the teachings of Confucius. Loyalty, diligence and self-control were praised as supreme personal virtues because they all contributed to harmony, the supreme social virtue. In 607 (and again in 608 and 614), Shotoku dispatched a large diplomatic mission to China. The official letter to the Chinese emperor referred to Japan, for the first time in history, as the “Land of the Rising Sun”; and, by addressing the Chinese ruler as sovereign of the “Land of the Setting Sun”, implied parity of status between the two states, rather than tributary relationship. Missions several hundred strong continued to be sent for the next two centuries despite their great expense and the danger involved in a sea voyage of 500 miles through stormy waters and often in the teeth of Korean hostility. The nominal leadership of these expeditions may have lain with their courtly figureheads, but their significance derived from the efforts of the monks, scholars, painters and musicians who made up their entourage, and the emigrants---from concubines to craftsmen---who accompanied their return. Shotoku, who had been brought up by religiously zealous parents, was himself a devout follower of Buddhism. In 594, he issued an imperial edict calling for the promotion of Buddhism. Shotoku appears to have been not only pious but also learned, composing his own commentaries on the Buddhist sutras. He also gave direct imperial support to many temple projects, notably Horyuji. It must be remembered, however, that in carrying out these good works he always sought to extend imperial influence over Buddhist institutions. Prince Shotoku on the Y10,000 banknote Winter 2008 Docents’ Newsletter

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