Baosheng Temple: Arhats

CHINA, Jiangsu, Suzhou; Northern Song dynasty

These nine Arhats are all that survived from a fire that occurred in 1927, which destroyed the central Buddha statue and the other nine Arhat statues in the main hall. Although they are credited to the Tang sculptor Yang Huizhi, their style suggests they were sculpted during the Song dynasty (960–1127). These sculptures were listed as a National Cultural Heritage Site.
The sculpture includes Arhats resting in caves scattered among rocks and peaks. Such depictions of landscape backgrounds were popular in Song dynasty temples. The Arhats are placed among the landscape elements, and their surroundings illustrate their personalities. The figures have either Chinese or Indian characteristics. Long noses, deeply set eyes, curly beards, and defined eyebrows distinguish the Indian Arhats. The Chinese monks wear loose robes with wide sleeves.
Pronounced eyebrow ridges emphasize the lean face of the Teaching Arhat in the lower register. His shoulders are hunched and his right arm is raised, while the left palm rests on the knee. Opposite the Teaching Arhat is a young monk listening with mouth slightly open. Another Arhat sitting in a cave next to these two Arhats gives an interesting expression.