Zhai Ming Temple: Manjusri and Samantabhadra Bodhisattvas

TAIWAN, Taoyuan

Manjusri Bodhisattva sits on the back of a lion and wears a golden circlet atop blue hair. The body is covered with a patterned shawl and a light blue monastic robe. Holding a ruyi (wish-fulfilling talisman) with both hands, Manjusri gazes off into the distance. The nimbus is outlined with tufts of flames. Standing upon clouds, the lion holds a lotus in its open mouth. The mane and tail are depicted with distinctive dark curls.
The facial expression, nimbus, and garments of Samantabhadra are similar to those of Manjusri. Samantabhadra holds a long-stemmed lotus with both hands and sits upon the back of a white elephant with wrinkled skin. There is a gold swastika in the middle of the Bodhisattva’s chest. The elephant wears a harness decorated with red flowers, and holds a lotus with its trunk.