What was the Constitution of Seventeen Articles?

The Seventeen-article constitution was a document written by a japanese prince named Shoutoku in the year 604. In contrast to the purpose of a modern constitution, this document's essence was moral, rather than political, since it contained a set of moral virtues that the author expected to be followed by the government and the subjects in order to ensure welfare in his mandate.

The constitution proclaimed acts of harmony, honesty, and justice.