文殊師利菩薩
Bodhisattva Mañjuśrī

青海(安多) 二十世紀初期
Qinghai (Amdo), early 20th century
文殊師利菩薩,又稱妙吉祥菩薩,以睿智、辯才第一為眾菩薩之首,故又稱法王子。漢傳佛教有四大菩薩,分別是文殊、觀音、普賢和地藏。藏傳佛教有三部主,即諸佛之智慧所化現的文殊菩薩,悲心所化現的觀世音菩薩,力量所化現的金剛手菩薩。佛身橘黄色,身飾黃金瓔珞莊嚴有若印度皇子,結金剛跏趺坐於蓮花座上,右手高舉智慧劍,象徵斬斷無明煩惱,左手于胸前拈蓮花之花莖,蓮花上有般若經典,象徵最高法門般若智慧。上界左邊是釋迦牟尼佛,右邊是阿彌陀佛。左下角是四臂觀音,右下角是忿怒相金剛手菩薩。
Mañjuśrī, a bodhisattva best known for his prajñā (insight) and eloquence, is in Chinese Buddhism, one of the Four Great Bodhisattvas, the other three being Kṣitigarbha, Avalokiteśvara and Samantabhadra. In Tibetan Buddhism, Mañjuśrī as the symbolic figure of wisdom, is often depicted in a trinity with Avalokiteśvara, who stands for compassion and Vajrapāṇi who symbolizes power. Adorned like an Indian prince, he is seated in vajrāsana on an elevated lotus throne. His right hand is brandishing the wisdom sword and his left hand holds the utpala flower that supports the symbolic text of wisdom, the Prajñāpāramitā. Above, Buddha Śākyamuni appears on the left, and Buddha Amitābha to the right, whereas at bottom level Bodhisattva Ṣadākṣarī-Lokeśvara is shown on the left and the wrathful Bodhisattva Vajrapāṇī to the right.