A 1680s sculpture by Kôyû of Monju on display at the British Museum
- Sanskrit: Mañjuśrī
- Japanese: 文殊 (monju)
Monju, or Manjusri, is the bodhisattva of wisdom. Typically depicted astride a lion, he is often paired with the bodhisattva Fugen, who sits atop an elephant as her mount.
Monju's flaming sword is said to cut through ignorance, and his lion to roar with the sound of the dharma (the Buddhist law).
References
- "Monju Bosatsu," gallery label, British Museum.[1]