Sixteen Arhats (detail)
Ink on paper
Sixteen Arhats (detail)
Sixteen Arhats
CHINA; Qing dynasty
This painting was created during the early Qing dynasty by the monk Shitao. Originally named Zhu Ruoji, Shitao was part of the royal family and became a monk after the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) was overthrown. As he rarely made figurative paintings, this artwork, made when he was 26 years old, could be one of his earliest attempts at depicting human figures.
The Sixteen Arhats are arranged in five groups within a natural landscape. Fine lines are used to depict their facial expressions and hair; fluid strokes outline the folds of their robes. The composition of the painting is diverse but retains coherency. The landscape is depicted with dark lines while the lightly sketched figures fade into the background.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Painting P-Z, page 855.
Cite this article:
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Youlu and Wilson, Graham and Manho and Mankuang and Huntington, Susan,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Painting P-Z},
pages = 855,
title = {{Sixteen Arhats}},
volume = 16,
year = {2016}}