Baoning Temple: Water and Land Dharma Service Collection - Sixteen Arhats

CHINA, Shanxi, Youyu; Ming dynasty

These eight artworks are part of Baoning Temple’s Water and Land Dharma Service collection. Each painting portrays two Chinese or Indian Arhats that vary in age. The Arhats are shown sitting peacefully, either smiling or with a look of deep concentration, surrounded by various Buddhist practitioners, attendants, and donors. Rivers, mountains, waterfalls, and old trees bent under the weight of dense leaves are painted in the background. In the first illustration, an Arhat holds up a bowl from which a dragon emerges in a cloud of smoke. The Arhat seated beside him looks upwards with a wide smile. In the second picture, a tiger walks up to an Arhat who sits peacefully holding a staff, while below an attendant cowers in fear, jumping on top of his companion. Another painting depicts a monkey making an offering to an Arhat who sits in meditation.