Five Hundred Arhats

CHINA; Ming dynasty

This scroll, painted by Wu Bin sometime between 1591 and 1626, depicts Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, the Five Hundred Arhats, numerous attendants, and animals. Many of the Arhats sit or stand on rocks, meditating, conversing, or teaching the Dharma. One group of Arhats sit peacefully upon a large rock, while several Arhats are shown with animals: some stand beside cows, one stands upon a fish, while others look down at a goat or a peacock. One Arhat sits in a cart pulled by a goat, another rides two cows, and an Arhat in a red robe is seated in a carriage pulled by horses. A monkey is shown beside an Arhat who sits in meditation on a tree branch beside the edge of a cliff, while off in the distance, more Arhats ride colorful birds. An elephant is also depicted, carrying three large lotuses on its back. The detailed figures, painted in Wu’s distinctive style, stand out against a simple white background. Their robes are painted with fine, curving lines, and their faces are realistic and expressive.