Final answer:
Prince Shotoku's constitution emphasized harmony through the adoption of Chinese Confucian and Buddhist tenets, aiming to unify and stabilize Japanese society by setting a centralized state and systems akin to contemporaneous East Asian dynasties.
Step-by-step explanation:
The importance of harmony as highlighted in the constitution of Prince Shotoku is a reflection of the broader East Asian philosophical and political traditions, particularly those stemming from Chinese Confucian thought. Prince Shotoku's Seventeen Article Constitution, formulated in 604, aimed to create a centralized and unified state while addressing the rights and duties of the rulers and the ruled. This was an adaptation and integration of the Chinese imperial model and Confucian principles into the Japanese context, seeking harmony within the society.
Furthermore, this constitution also included Buddhist ideologies, which along with Confucianism, guided both the rulers and the people towards maintaining harmony. The Yamato clan used these principles to elevate their standing and assert their dominance, distinguishing their lineage from other clans.
The significance of harmony, reflected in the constitution, can be compared to other East Asian political systems, where maintaining social order and collective well-being were highly prioritized, such as during the Song dynasty or even the later Tokugawa shogunate in Japan, where structured societal orders and laws manifested the same ethos. Each societal structure upheld harmony as an essential element for stability and governance.