Manjushri Bodhisattva by Kichizan Minchō

Manjushri Bodhisattva c. early 15th century

gold-on-paper, hanging-scroll, ink

toned paper

japan

gold-on-paper

oil painting

hanging-scroll

ink

acrylic on canvas

earthy tone

coffee painting

animal drawing portrait

portrait drawing

botanical art

watercolor

warm toned green

This hanging scroll depicts Manjushri Bodhisattva, a figure of wisdom and eloquence in Mahayana Buddhism. Painted by the renowned Japanese artist Kichizan Minchō in the early 15th century, the work showcases Minchō’s mastery of ink and wash technique. Manjushri is rendered in a serene and contemplative pose, holding a book symbolizing his wisdom. The delicate brushwork and subtle shading create a sense of depth and realism. The scroll’s ornate borders, adorned with intricate patterns, enhance its decorative appeal. This painting exemplifies Minchō’s significant contribution to the development of Japanese Buddhist art.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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Monju, the bodhisattva of transcendental knowledge, was particularly revered among Zen Buddhists. In this painting by a Zen monk-painter, Monju’s wisdom is at its purest—he appears as a young boy with wispy hair, wearing a gold crown and earrings, and carrying a book of scripture. Active as a monk and semiprofessional painter at the monastery Tōfukuji in Kyoto, Kichizan Minchō and his followers built an influential painting studio specializing in the production of Buddhist images, both traditional, heavily pigmented icons as well as ink paintings like this one. Minchō was among the earliest Japanese Zen monk-painters to master the technique of monochrome ink painting, which had originated in China. He helped shape the early development of this art form in Japan, as his works and those of his followers circulated and became important models for other Zen painters active at monasteries farther afield.