Manjushri

Unknown artist, c. 1500–1550

Download2957 × 3400 px View on a wall Edit

Medium: Hanging scroll, ink, color and gold on silk
Size: Painting: 124.8 x 107.3 cm (49 1/8 x 42 1/4 in.); Overall: 314.2 x 111.2 cm (123 11/16 x 43 3/4 in.); Overall with knobs: 314.2 x 122.8 cm (123 11/16 x 48 3/8 in.)
Culture: China, Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
Museum: Cleveland Museum of Art
Rights: CC0 — no rights reserved

A Chinese artist's interpretation of an Indo-Nepalese throne surrounds the white figure of Manjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom. Chinese textiles and jewels drape fluidly over the body, the red lower garment offering a contrast to the abundance of malachite green that dominates the composition. Swirling clouds of variegated hues around the periphery add to the mystical, almost magical mood of this iconic figure. His hands are in the gesture of imparting the Buddhist teachings, while his posture and expression reveal that wisdom can be perceived through the practice of yogic meditation.