The Buddha flanked by bodhisattvas and surrounded by the Sixteen Good Spirits, from the Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra

This painting would have been used in a ritual when chanting the Buddhist text known as the Perfection of Wisdom sutra (Mahaprajnaparamita sutra). Many paintings representing aspects of the text appeared between 1200 and 1500.

The historical Buddha Shakyamuni is shown in his paradise above the clouds, flanked by two bodhisattvas. Manjushri (Monju), enthroned on a lion, embodies the Buddha’s wisdom and spiritual insight, while Samantabhadra (Fugen), on a six-tusked elephant, represents the Buddha’s meditative practices and teaching.

Surrounding the three central figures are guardian kings, heavenly beings, and a group of monks known in Japan as the Sixteen Protectors (juroku zenshin), guardians of the Perfection of Wisdom sutra. Some of these protective figures have fantastical facial expressions and animated gestures that contrast with the serenity of the Buddha and his bodhisattvas.