文殊

([lang id =1028]文殊師利) Mañjuśrī [lang id =1028]滿殊尸利 -later [lang id =1028]曼殊室利. [lang id =1028]文殊 is also used for Mañjunātha, Mañjudeva, Mañjughoṣa, Mañjuṣvara, et al. T., hjamdpal; J., Monju. Origin unknown; presumably, like most Buddhas and bodhisattvas, an idealization of a particular quality, in his case of Wisdom. Mañju is beautiful, Śrī; good fortune, virtue, majesty, lord, an epithet of a god. Six definitions are obtained from various scriptures: [lang id =1028]妙首 (or [lang id =1028]頭 ) wonderful or beautiful) head; [lang id =1028]普首 universal head; [lang id =1028]濡首 glossy head (probably a transliteration); [lang id =1028]敬首 revered head; [lang id =1028]妙德 wonderful virtue (or power); [lang id =1028]妙吉祥 wonderfully auspicious; the last is a later translation in the [lang id =1028]西域記. As guardian of wisdom [lang id =1028]智慧 he is often placed on Śākyamuni's left, with [lang id =1028]普顯 on the right as guardian of law [lang id =1028]理, the latter holding the Law, the former the wisdom or exposition of it; formerly they held the reverse positions. He is often represented with five curls or waves to his hair indicating the [lang id =1028]五智 q. v. or the five peaks; his hand holds the sword of wisdom and he sits on a lion emblematic of its stern majesty: but he has other forms. He is represented as a youth, i. e. eternal youth. His present abode is given as east of the universe, known as [lang id =1028]清涼山 clear and cool mountain, or a region [lang id =1028]寶住 precious abode, or Abode of Treasures, or [lang id =1028]寶氏 from which he derives one of his titles, [lang id =1028]寶相如來. One of his (sa) dhāraṇīs prophesies China as his post-nirvāṇa realm. In past incarnations he is described as being the parent of many Buddhas and as having assisted the Buddha into existence; his title was [lang id =1028]龍種上佛 the supreme Buddha of the (sa) nāgas, also [lang id =1028]大身佛 or [lang id =1028]神仙佛; now his title is [lang id =1028]歡喜藏摩尼寶精佛 The spiritual Buddha who joyfully cares for the jewel: and his future title is to be [lang id =1028]普現佛 Buddha universally revealed. In the [lang id =1028]序品 Introductory Chapter of the <Lotus Sutra> he is also described as the ninth predecessor or Buddha-ancestor of Śākyamuni. He is looked on as the chief of the Bodhisattvas and represents them, as the chief disciple of the Buddha, or as his son [lang id =1028]法王子. Hīnayāna counts Śāriputra as the wisest of the disciples, Mahāyāna gives Mañjuśrī the chief place, hence he is also styled [lang id =1028]覺母 mother, or begetter of understanding. He is shown riding on either a lion or a peacock, or sitting on a white lotus; often he holds a book, emblem of wisdom, or a blue lotus; in certain rooms of a monastery he is shown as a monk; and he appears in military array as defender of the faith. His signs, magic words, and so on, are found in various sutras. His most famous centre in China is Wu-tai shan in Shansi. where he is the object of pilgrimages, especially of Mongols. The legends about him are many. He takes the place in Buddhism of Viśvakarman as Vulcan, or architect, of the universe. He is one of the eight Dhyāni-bodhisattvas, and sometimes has the image of Akṣobhya in his crown. He was mentioned in China as early as the fourth century and in the <Lotus Sutra> he frequently appears, especially as the converter of the daughter of the Dragon-king of the Ocean. He has five messengers [lang id =1028]五使者 and eight youths [lang id =1028]八童子 attending on him. His hall in the Garbhadhātu maṇḍala is the seventh, in which his group numbers twenty-five. His position is northeast. There are numerous sutras and other works with his name as title, e. g. [lang id =1028]文殊師利問菩提經 Gayaśīrṣa sūtra, tr. by Kumārajīva 384-417: and its [lang id =1028]論 or .Tīkā of Vasubandhu, tr. by Bodhiruci 535. see list in B. N.

* * *

文殊師利的簡稱， 菩薩名， 以大智著稱， 與普賢常侍於釋迦如來的左右。