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Bodhisattva of Wisdom (Manjushri)
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
The youthful, princely form of Manjushri can be identified by the horizontal book on the lotus over his left shoulder. The book refers to the Buddhist teachings of ultimate knowledge (Prajnaparamita), and this bodhisattva is the male embodiment of the wisdom gained from understanding them. Manjushri is of special importance for Buddhists of Nepal, called Newari, who credit him with draining the water from Kathmandu Valley.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineBodhisattva of Wisdom (Manjushri), 1400s. Nepal. Gilded copper; overall: 42.4 x 16.5 cm (16 11/16 x 6 1/2 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, The Norweb Collection, 1956.8
