Manjushri Statue | Sword of Wisdom, Fire Gilded 24K Gold | 8.5″

Our Nepali master artisan created this beautiful 8.5″ Manjushri statue, fire gilded in 24K pure gold, with a Bodhisattva crown and jewelry. At the request of the buyer, we would be happy to adorn the crown and jewels of this statue with turquoise and red coral stones. At no extra charge, the skilled artisan can embellish the statue with these special decorations before delivery. The color turquoise is a special combination of blue and green. Indeed, blue signifies the purity of the Buddhas and green symbolizes Manjushri’s readiness to act. He wears it well and will inspire all those who lay their eyes on this statue.

Manjushri Statue Features

Our Manjushri statue wields the sword of wisdom over his right shoulder. This is a special sword that will turn the darkness of ignorance into light — it signifies the gentle annihilation of ignorance and delusion using wisdom and skillful means. The Bodhisattva Manjushri originated in the Mahayana Buddhist text called the Prajnaparamita Sutra. The Sanskrit word “prajna” means wisdom and “paramita” stands for perfection. As a result, the sword is also known as “perfected wisdom.”

To pay respect to the Prajnaparamita Sutra, a copy of the text rests inside the lotus blossom that is blooming over his left shoulder. Additionally, he holds the stem of the lotus flower in his left hand. His left hand is raised at the chest with the palm turned open toward devotees — a delicate Buddhist hand gesture of teaching and discussion, expressing the transmission of wisdom to those who receive it with sincere heart. Explore the meaning of the many Buddhist hand gestures in our full guide to Buddha statue meaning.

This Manjushri statue sits in the full lotus pose on a single lotus pedestal. This seated position is also known as the vajra pose — vajra is a Sanskrit word that means “lightning bolt” or “diamond,” and the meaning is significant: it represents impenetrable wisdom. Manjushri is also known as Jampelyang in Tibetan, and is honored as one of the Three Protector Bodhisattvas alongside Avalokiteshvara and Vajrapani. Learn more about the Bodhisattva of Wisdom in our full guide to the meaning of Manjushri statues.

Shakya Artisans and the Lost Wax Method

This statue was cast by master craftsmen of the Shakya caste of Newar artisans in Patan, Nepal — the same lineage that has supplied Tibetan monasteries with their most important sculpture for over a thousand years. Every piece begins as a hand-sculpted beeswax model, encased in clay, then fired so the wax melts away and molten copper alloy is poured into the resulting mould. The clay is broken, the metal figure is cold-worked by hand — chased, engraved, and refined — before the surface is fire gilded with pure 24K gold. The engraving continues fully in the round on this piece, including a lattice band of small florets running around the seat and dense scrollwork across the shoulder cape. Because each wax model is destroyed in the casting, no two statues from the workshop are ever identical.

Custom Orders and Consecration

If you would prefer this Manjushri in a different size, or in an oxidized copper, partly gilded, or silver plated finish, we can commission it directly with the artisan on your behalf — explore our custom Tibetan Buddhist statues page for the full commissioning process. And like all of our sculptures, this Manjushri is ready for filling, blessing, and consecration in your own tradition — a process we guide every buyer through personally, as noted in the verified reviews on this listing.