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Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Transcendent Wisdom

9th century

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 237

The youthful Manjushri, referrred to as kumara, or "boyish", in his parent text, the Prajnaparamita, is seated on a waisted lotus throne, the base of which bears the female donor's simple inscription around three sides. Manjushri's handheld identifiers are thne wisdom book (pustaka), blue lotus, and rosary, and a fourth now-lost identifier—perhaps a second blue lotus or the sword. In affirmation of Manjushri's child nature, his hair at the back is in three long braids, and he wears a tiger-claw pendant (vyaghra-nakha), which was favored by parents as a protective talisman for children.

Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Transcendent Wisdom, Copper alloy with silver inlay, Kashmir — This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Transcendent Wisdom, Copper alloy with silver inlay, Kashmir

Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Transcendent Wisdom, Copper alloy with silver inlay, Kashmir

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

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

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

Title: Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Transcendent Wisdom

Date: 9th century

Culture: Kashmir

Medium: Copper alloy with silver inlay

Dimensions: H. 5 15/16 (15.1 cm); W. 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm); D. 2 1/8 in. (5.4 cm)

Classification: Sculpture

Credit Line: Lent by a private collection

Object Number: L.2017.31.2

The Met

Asian Art at The Met

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world.