The Manjusri reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Jul-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Manjusri

Mañjuśrī (文殊 Ch. Wen Shu, Jp. Monju, Tibetan Jambeyang), also written Manjushri, is a bodhisattva. A disciple of the historical Buddha Shakyamuni, he represents wisdom, intelligence and realization, and after Avalokitesvara (Guan Yin) is probably the most popular bodhisattva.

Together with Shakyamuni and fellow disciple Samantabhadra he forms the Shakyamuni trinity. Manjusri is one of the Eight Wisdom Bodhisattvas and one of the Japanese Thirteen Buddhas.

Manjusri is mentioned in many Mahayana sutras, particularly the Prajnaparamita Sutras. The Lotus Sutra assigns him a paradise called Vimala, which according to the Avatamsaka Sutra is located in the east.

Iconography

Manjusri is originally male, but is often depicted with feminine features in Japan, possibly due to cross-fertilization with Benzaiten. In Japan, he (or she) is typically presented riding a lion, holding a raised sword in his right hand and holding a scroll in his left hand (see image).

Manchu

According to legend, Jurchen leader and founder of the Qing Dynasty Nurhaci believed himself to be a reincarnation of Manjusri. He thus banned the name "Jurchen" and renamed his race the Manchus.

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