The bodhisattva Manjushri in Pala revival style

Manjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom, here carries two lotuses supporting the sword that cleaves the clouds of ignorance, and the book of The Perfection of Wisdom, through which the true nature of all things can be understood. Behind him is a backdrop ablaze with the fire of wisdom. At the top is a conical stupa representing the omniscient mind of all the buddhas.

The Qianlong emperor was identified by Tibetan Buddhists as a human manifestation of Manjushri. Because of the emperor’s interest in the religion, during his reign Tibetan Buddhist sculptures and paintings in various regional styles were produced. The prototype for this image was Indian in origin; it reflects a revival of the Pala style of eastern India, which originally flourished in the eighth to twelfth century.