Statue
C96
Location: On Display in the Asia Galleries
From: China
Curatorial Section: Asian
| Object Number | C96 |
| Current Location | Asia Galleries - On Display |
| Culture | Chinese | Buddhist |
| Provenience | China |
| Period | Tang Dynasty |
| Date Made | Tang Dynasty |
| Section | Asian |
| Materials | Marble (Stone) | Pigment | Gilding |
| Technique | Painted | Gilded | Carved |
| Iconography | Wenshu | Manjusri | Lion |
| Description | Wenshu (Manjusri in Sanskirt) is the bodhisattva of wisdom. He often rides a lion, as he does here. Other attributes include him holding the Prajnaparamita sutra, the book of Perfect Knowledge, in his left hand, and a sword in his right with a flaming point used to drive away darkness and ignorance. Chinese followers believed Mount Wutai in Shanxi province was Wenshu's abode, making it a place of Buddhist pilgrimage. Wenshu is often paried with Puxian (Samantabhadra in Sanskrit) who rides an elephant. The statue is made of marble with traces of pigment and gilding. |
| Height | 69 cm |
| Credit Line | Purchased from C. T. Loo, 1915 |
| Other Number | Getz 15 - Other Number |
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