Seated Monju Bosatsu (Manjusri) and Attendants

According to a note, which says that these images were created by Buddhist sculptor Koen, written on the head of the lion on which Monju (Manjusri) Bodhisattva sits and documents that are owned separately, from the images, by Daitokyu Kinen Bunko and others, it is clear that these images were created in 1273 by Koen (1207 - ?), a sculptor of Buddhist images, who was a successor to Tankei. The person who made the votive offering for the creation of these images was Gyogen, a priest of Kofukuji and these five images were enshrined as the principal images of worship at Kangakuin, which was established at Kofukuji Temple in 1285, twelve years after the creation.This group of images is called Godaisan Monju or Tokai Monju and based on the icons that emerged from the Godaisan Faith, faith in the holy mountain (Godaisan) of Monju Bodhisattva, in China. However, the representation of crossing the sea is unique to Japan. In these images, it is represented by sea waves, which are engraved on the upper surface of the pedestal frame. The five topknots on the head of Monju Bodhisattva and its boy-like appearance correspond to the description of "child-like appearance" written in sutras and show that the wisdom of Monju is as pure as that of a child. The child image among followers is called Zenzai Doshi. In the Kegon Sutra (Avatamsaka Sutra), he is described as a child who visited 53 virtuous wisdoms and practiced and completed all austerities required to become a Bodhisattva.