Monju on a Lion

Shūsei Japanese

Not on view

Manjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom known as Monjū in Japan, sits cross-legged on the back of his lion vehicle. He appears as a youth in flowing robes, his hair worn long and loose; one of his attributes, a scepter, lies casually on the ground before him. Although this work offers a decidedly carefree interpretation, its iconography is consistent with examples by painters affiliated with the Zen monastery Tōfukuji in Kyoto.

Monju on a Lion, Shūsei (Japanese, active late 15th century), Hanging scroll; ink on paper, Japan

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.

Monju on a Lion, Shūsei (Japanese, active late 15th century), Hanging scroll; ink on paper, Japan
Monju on a Lion, Shūsei (Japanese, active late 15th century), Hanging scroll; ink on paper, Japan
Monju on a Lion, Shūsei (Japanese, active late 15th century), Hanging scroll; ink on paper, Japan

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.