Wutaishan Foguang Temple Manjusri Hall: Manjusri Bodhisattva and Attendants

CHINA, Shanxi, Xinzhou; Jin dynasty

The Manjusri Hall is the only Jin dynasty (1115–1234) building on Wutaishan and contains a statue of Manjusri who is accompanied by six attendants. The Bodhisattva rides a lion led by a dark skinned keeper. Two accompanying Bodhisattvas stand on either side while the young Sudhana and two older male figures bow in the foreground.
Of the seven figures, only Manjusri is gilded. The figure is seated in the relaxation posture and holds a ruyi (wish-fulfilling talisman) in both hands. The Bodhisattva wears an ornate crown as well as jewelry on the lower part of the body. The cuffs of the long garment are flung backwards and resemble flames.
Sudhana, the smallest figure in the group, has hands clasped as he bows. The two human figures, both with hands joined in reverence, contrast sharply with each other; one’s appearance is like an old Chinese man while the other is dark-skinned.