MING DYNASTY, DATED BY INSCRIPTION TO THE FIRST YEAR OF THE CHENGHUA PERIOD, CORRESPONDING TO 1465 AND OF THE PERIOD

The inscription on the back of the lion indicates that the present figure was made by monk Yongmin in the first year of the Chenghua period (1465). Manjushri (Wenshu), the bodhisattva of wisdom, is usually shown seated on a lion and is often shown in a triad with the Buddha Shakyamuni and the bodhisattva Samantabhadra (Puxian) who is shown seated on an elephant. The Avatamsaka sutra, which was introduced into China in the 5th century AD, described the bodhimanda of Manjushri as “cold, clear, mountain” in the Northeast. This led Chinese scholars to associate Manjushri with Wutaishan in Northeast China, and explains the peak’s alternate name, Qingliang Shan (Clear Cold Mountain).