Wutaishan Manjushri

China · 18th c.

THK · 61FFA6

Origin: China
Period: 18th c.
Category: Scroll painting
Medium: Mineral pigment on cloth
Dimensions: 56.5 × 37.5 cm
Museum: San Diego Museum of Art
Deities: Yama Dharmaraja · Vajradhara · Chakrasamvara · Tsongkhapa · Manjushri

Notes

Five forms of Manjushri of Wutaishan (Mount Wutai). At the center is a large white Sita Manjushri surrounded by four further forms — yellow, black, orange, and red. At top center is the Tibetan teacher Tsongkhapa, with Vajradhara just below to the left and Chakrasamvara just below to the right. At the upper left is a Dalai Lama and at the upper right an unidentified teacher. Along the bottom are five forms of Yama Dharmaraja, the wrathful emanation of Manjushri who serves as the protector deity for followers of the Vajrabhairava tantric system. Yama Dharmaraja is also one of the three special protectors of the Gelug tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.