The Bodhisattva Manjushri as a Ferocious Destroyer of Ignorance

The Bodhisattva Manjushri as a Ferocious Destroyer of Ignorance

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Manjushri is rarely represented in his wrathful form. Here both his aggressive stance and his fearsome face—flared eyes, knotted eyebrows, and exposed teeth—speak to his angry nature. In addition to the sword, the triple-knot hairstyle and the tiger-claw necklace identify Manjushri.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Bodhisattva Manjushri as a Ferocious Destroyer of IgnoranceThe Bodhisattva Manjushri as a Ferocious Destroyer of IgnoranceThe Bodhisattva Manjushri as a Ferocious Destroyer of IgnoranceThe Bodhisattva Manjushri as a Ferocious Destroyer of IgnoranceThe Bodhisattva Manjushri as a Ferocious Destroyer of Ignorance

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.