Empress Shotoku
- Born: 718
- Died: 770/8
- Reign: 749-758, 764-770
- Other Names: 孝謙天皇 (Kouken tennou)
- Japanese: 称徳天皇 (Shoutoku tennou)
Empress Shôtoku, known as Empress Kôken during her first reign, was a reigning empress of the Nara period. She is known for a number of significant acts, including the commissioning of the Hyakumantô darani and the construction of the Shôsôin.
Kôken took the throne for the first time in 749, upon the abdication of her father, Emperor Shômu. Upon his death in 756, she commissioned the construction of the Shôsôin, a storehouse located on the grounds of Tôdai-ji and built to house the late emperor's treasures.
She abdicated in favor of Emperor Junnin in 758, but then returned to the throne under the new name Empress Shôtoku following Junnin's abdication in 764.
That same year, she commissioned the production of the Hyakumantô darani - one million tiny ceramic pagodas containing copperplate-printed copies of dhâranî religious texts; many of these one million survive today and are the oldest surviving examples of printed materials made in Japan.
A site northwest of the Heijô Imperial Palace is traditionally identified as her mausoleum. It neighbors kofun identified as the mausolea of the 2nd century likely legendary Emperor Seimu, and Hibasuhime no mikoto, consort to Emperor Suinin.
| Preceded by Emperor Shômu |
Emperor of Japan (as Kôken) 749-758 |
Succeeded by Emperor Junnin |
| Preceded by Emperor Junnin |
Emperor of Japan (as Shôtoku) 764-770 |
Succeeded by Emperor Kônin |
