National Treasures & Important Cultural Properties
of National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, Japan

　Monju (Skt. Mañjuśrī) is a bodhisattva of wisdom and the belief in the bodhisattva was widespread and often enshrined as a guard of Shakamuni (Skt. Śākyamuni) or as itself. In the esoteric Buddhism, it is represented in the youthful form (Doji gyo) that indicates pureness without obsession. There are some images where the number of topknots (motodori) is determined depending on the number of “true word (shingon),” which are one letter, five letters, six letters or eight letters, however, just like the image in this painting, Monju with five topknots whose true vow is good health is most seen. The image of Monju that rides on a lion with a sword, a symbol of wisdom, in the right hand and a lotus on which a sutra (bonkyo) is placed in the left hand is familiar. According to the inscription on the painting, this painting was drawn by the Shingon priest, Monkan Bokoshin (1278–1357), who won the confidence of the Emperor Godaigo and known as the priest with deep faith of Monju, on July 9, Kenmu 1 (1334) for the memorial services of the twenty-first day after his mother died (mi nannuka). The features of the era can be seen from the painting patterns represented by gold paint lines (kindei) applied on the clothes and dynamic and bold ink lines used for drawing the lion. The painting of “Monju with Eight Letters” accompanied by Sudhana (Zenzai Doji) and eight child attendants drawn on the memorial service of the thirty-fifth day after his mother died (itsu nanuka) has a style different from those featuring rich and strong colors in various places.