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Eighteen Arhats
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Eighteen Arhats
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Eighteen Arhats
CHINA; Northern Song dynasty (960-1127); Attributed to Lu Lengqie; Ink and color on silk; 30 x 53 cm; Palace Museum, Beijing, China
These six illustrations were originally part of a set of pictures depicting the Eighteen Arhats. The other 12 images have been lost. During the Tang dynasty (618-907), the Sixteen Arhats were painted according to descriptions in the Records of Nandimitra's Discourse on Abiding Dharma. Beginning in the Northern Song dynasty (960 -1127), the Tiger-Taming and Dragon-Subduing Arhats were sometimes added to the group. The presence of these two figures suggest that the illustrations date from this time. Thus, the signature of the Tang dynasty painter Lu Lenqqie on the artworks is thought to be fake.
Each page is 30 cm high and 53 cm wide. They are each marked with several inscriptions and seals. The name of each Arhat is written in Tibetan at the top of each picture. There is a Northern Song dynasty Xuanhe" (1119-1125) seal |
