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

Monju (Skt. Mañjuśrī) was worshipped extensively as the bodhisattva of wisdom. In votive Buddhist art, Monju is often depicted alone or as an attendant to the historical buddha Śākyamuni. In esoteric Buddhism, Monju appears in the guise of a child to represent the purity and freedom from attachment that come from wisdom. The number of topknots on the bodhisattva’s head corresponds to four kinds of mantras that are made up of one, five, six, or eight syllables. The most common depiction is the one seen here, with five topknots alluding to Monju’s vow to avert disaster. The iconography in this work is familiar as well. Monju is mounted on a lion with a sword in the right hand representing wisdom. The left hand holds a lotus flower crowned with a sutra bound between two boards in the style of ancient palm-leaf manuscripts. According to the inscription, this painting was produced on the 9th day of the 6th month of Kenmu 1 (July 10, 1334 [Julian calendar]) by the Shingon priest, Monkan (1278–1357) for memorial services held on the 21st day after his mother’s passing. Monkan is known to have been a devoted follower of Monju as well as a trusted confidant of Emperor Go-Daigo (1288–1339; r. 1318–1339). Common traits of the period can be seen in the painterly designs in lines of gold paint on the robes and the thick, powerful ink strokes used to render the lion. On the 35th day after his mother’s passing, Monkan commissioned a work depicting the “eight-syllable” Monju with the Eight Great Child Acolytes and the boy pilgrim Sudhana (J. Zenzai Dōji). That painting is held in another collection, and its style features heavy, dense pigments that differ markedly from this one.