Eighteen Arhats

CHINA; Ming dynasty

Ding Yunpeng, an artist who often painted scenes and figures from Buddhist sutras, made this picture during the late Ming dynasty (1368–1644). The painting bears his signature and seal imprints, one of which reads “Nan Yu,” his style name. These Eighteen Arhats, depicted with various appearances in different postures, hold objects such as a vajra, prayer beads, a ruyi (wish-fulfilling talisman), a whisk, and a baton. The Arhats are accompanied by attendants and donors, as well as animals including a tiger, a sheep, and a lion, which add liveliness to the painting. According to historical commentaries on art, Ding sucessfully conveyed the Arhat’s personalities through their hairlines, eyebrows, and wrinkles. Their clothing is portrayed with thin, vigorous strokes, lightly inked to produce a three-dimensional effect.