Commemorative Journal of Peace & Harmony

Following the success of the “Peace and Harmony – The Divine Spectra of Avalokitesvara from Tibet, China – A Collection of 108 Sacred Avalokitesvara Statues and Related Artifacts” published in 2007, the new Commemorative Journal has been written to accompany the Exhibition “Peace and Harmony – The Divine Spectra of Manjusri enshrining the Wisdom of China – A Collection of 108 Sacred Manjusri Statues and Related Artifacts”. By taken Manjusri as the theme, the Exhibition illustrates 216 artifacts with descriptions of the 108 statues of Manjusri (including statues of porcelain, wood carving, bronze as well as pair statues of Manjusri and Samantabhadra) and other 108 exhibits such as Thangka, Ga'u, right-spiralling conch, ritual implements, prayer wheel, etc. The art pieces comprise in the Commemorative Journal are the collections of Dr. Paul Kan of Champion Technology Group for decades. There are also articles expounding the principles and teachings of Manjusri, the development and influence of Manjusri in Chinese culture, his role in Tibetan Buddhism and Chinese Buddhism, as well as Manjusri's various images in different dynasties and their incarnations. The Journal further offers insights into the appreciation of the supreme Chinese craftsmanship embracing gilding in gold and silver, wood carving and the making of underglaze red porcelain. It thus serves as a perfect guidebook to the Exhibition and an encyclopedia on Buddhist art.

Manjusri is the God of Wisdom. By publishing this Commemorative Journal, Dr. Kan hopes every one of you can be inspired to understand the true meaning of ‘wisdom'. It is through learning to compromise and accept the differences among each other rather than to sacrifice harmony for short-term and individual benefits that we can ultimately attain world peace.