The Bodhisattva Monju (Manjushri) with Five Topknots

14th century
Not on view
This painting portrays a variant form of the bodhisattva Monju known as Monju with Five Topknots (Gokei Monju). He is imagined as a boy sitting cross-legged on a lotus pedestal atop a lion. He carries a sword, used to cut through ignorance, and a lotus, above which hovers a scroll representing the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra. The five topknots symbolize five buddhas who are said to embody five types of cognition.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 五髻文殊菩薩像
  • Title: The Bodhisattva Monju (Manjushri) with Five Topknots
  • Artist: Unidentified Artist, Japanese
  • Period: Nanbokuchō period (1336–92)
  • Date: 14th century
  • Culture: Japan
  • Medium: Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold on silk
  • Dimensions: Image: 36 1/4 × 16 9/16 in. (92 × 42 cm)
    Overall with mounting: 70 1/2 × 23 1/2 in. (179.1 × 59.7 cm)
    Overall with knobs: 70 1/2 × 25 5/8 in. (179.1 × 65.1 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Gift of Sue Cassidy Clark, in honor of Barbara Brennan Ford, 2020
  • Object Number: 2020.75.1
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.