Li Guangxiu

CHINA, Chongqing, Hechuan; Qing dynasty

Li Guangxiu, also known as Desheng, was an artist who was skilled in sculpture, calligraphy, and painting. Proficient in Buddhist practice and the ritual procedures for creating religious statues, he integrated this knowledge with his refined sculpting skills to create varied and exceptional Buddhist sculptures.
When he was young, Li created sculptures for Baoguang Temple in Sichuan. During the rule of Emperor Guangxu (reigned 1875–1908) of Qing dynasty, upon invitation from abbot Mengfo, Li and five of his disciples sculpted Five Hundred Arhats for Qiongzhu Temple in Yunnan. Each of the Arhat statues placed in a designated location within the temple, was given its own name and individual characteristics. Exhibiting highly cultivated sculpting skills with proper body proportions, the arhats were based on real-life models representing four different societal levels that included scholars, farmers, laborers, and merchants.