The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (2248 page)

see
KAMIKAZE
.

 
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(701–56)
. Japanese emperor and patron of Buddhism in the
Nara
period. He reigned 724–49, and sought to make Buddhism a foundation for the peace and order of the state. In 728 he ordered that
Konk
my
-ky
(The Golden Splendour S
tra, Skt.,
Suvar
aprabh
sa-uttama-s
tra
) should be distributed and recited for the protection of the nation. In 745, he ordered the setting up of the
daigedatsu
in T
dai-ji. He inaugurated and dedicated the image, making a personal commitment to the
Three Jewels
(
samb
). After his abdication, he became a home-living religious (
ny
d
), i.e. one who shaves his head and wears the Buddhist religious
habit
, but does not join a community.