Seated
in a diamond position, this sculpture of Manjushri is full of radiance. The face
of Manjushri is painted in cold gold, the painted urna is a perfect circle in
an amazing single hairline brush stroke. The uppermost gilt hair knot representing
vajrasattva, with hair that flows to both sides of the Bodhisattvas' shoulders
finely incised and painted in dark blue; on which he is wearing a five pronged
crown framing the youthful face of the Bodhisattva of Wisdom. He is steadily gaze
downward, with a serene smiling expression. In his extended right hand, he is
holding the double edged sword that symbolize elimination of ignorance; his left
is gently holding the stem of a lotus that winds over his shoulder, where the
Book of Divine Wisdom (Prajnaparamita Sutra) rests in the lotus blossom. Along
with two falling sashes fluttering on either sides, the elongated body of Manjushri
sways slightly away from the center, in which a sense of motion is created in
the motionless...like an endless ripple in still water.
Although
the Manjushri Bodhisattva statue is a prototype in accordance with centuries old
Tibetan Buddhist traditions, the crisp sharp features of this statue are an excellent
example of the superb 19th century Tibetan sculptural technique. The artist demonstrated
his technical proficiency with richly gilded gold and copper on a well casted
smooth surface, and hand forged every finer detail with the sure hand of a master.
His was the ability to refine and combine elements into an immaculate finish;
thus we readily recognized its exquisite artistry as Tibetan art.
