- Size: 23cm x 17cm x 12cm
- Weight: 1.3 kg
- Material: bronze
- Period and country of manufacture: approximately 20th century, Nepal
- Condition: vintage; patina, oxidation and surface wear. Greenish and brown tones on the surface, reflecting the age and treatment of the metal.
- Single piece
This sculpture depicts Manjushri, a central bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism. He is regarded as the embodiment of prajñā, or profound wisdom. Manjushri appears in early Mahayana sutras and particularly in the Prajñāpāramitā literature, which explores the perfection of wisdom.
Traditionally, writers have turned to Manjushri when seeking assistance, and he is revered as a patron of the sciences and the arts. He is also regarded as an important protector and supporter of astrologers.
Method of manufacture and origin
The statue is made of bronze, an alloy of copper and tin that has served as a primary sculptural material in the Himalayan region for centuries. It is dated to the 20th century, and its stylistic features point to the metalworking tradition of Nepal, particularly that of the Kathmandu Valley.
Nepalese metal art is closely associated with Newar artisans, whose workshops have produced Buddhist and Hindu imagery for temples and private devotion. The statue was cast using the lost-wax method. The figure is first modelled in wax, around which a mould is formed. The wax is then melted out and replaced with molten metal. The mould is broken during casting, making each sculpture unique. After casting, the surface is finished by hand and details are carved or refined directly into the metal. The statue is hollow, as is typical of regional bronze casting. In some cases, mantras or small prayer texts are placed inside before the base plate is sealed.
The surface shows patina, oxidation and wear. The green and brown tones reflect the natural ageing of the metal as well as the object’s history of use.
Iconography
Manjushri is depicted as a bodhisattva seated in the lotus posture, wearing a crown and adorned with jewellery. The richly ornamented attire forms part of the traditional bodhisattva iconography. In Mahayana Buddhism, a bodhisattva is a being capable of enlightenment who remains engaged in the world in order to assist others.
In his right hand he raises a flaming sword, Manjushri’s principal attribute. In Buddhist imagery, the sword symbolises the power of wisdom to cut through ignorance and the discerning insight that penetrates illusion.
The left hand is held at chest or shoulder level in the vitarka mudra, where the thumb and index finger touch to form a circle while the other fingers extend. The circle has been interpreted as representing the continuous flow of wisdom and the unbroken transmission of teaching and learning. The outward-facing palm suggests openness and communication, and the gesture is associated with instruction, dialogue and the sharing of knowledge.
From the left side rises a lotus stem. In many representations, a copy of the Prajñāpāramitā text rests upon the lotus blossom, linking the figure to the teaching on the perfection of wisdom, although the book is not always shown as a separate element. In Buddhist symbolism, the lotus signifies purity and spiritual awakening: it rises unstained from muddy water and is understood as reflecting the mind’s capacity to emerge beyond ignorance.
Manjushri has been represented in India and across Asia, including Nepal, Tibet, China and Japan, for centuries. In Tibetan Buddhism he is an important meditational figure, and the mantra Om A Ra Pa Tsa Na Dhih is associated with him and used in practices connected with the cultivation of wisdom.
