In China, the eighteen arhats (also known as "lohan" in Chinese) has been a popular subject in Buddhist art. Arhats, the preservers of the teaching of Buddhism, are charged to protect the Buddhist faith and to wait on earth for the coming of Maitreya, a future Buddha of the world in Buddhist eschatology.
Interestingly, there is a handscroll titled "Sixteen Arhats", the top lot of Fine Chinese Paintings sale at Christie's New York. What's the exact number of Buddhist arhats in the group? Eighteen or Sixteen?
Sixteen Arhats. Anonymous.
In fact, arhats come in different representations in Buddhist art and the number varies from 6, 8, 16, 18, 100 to 500. Originally, the earliest Indian sutras indicate that only four were instructed to await the coming of Maitreya. When the group was introduced to China, the number later increased to sixteen, including patriarchs and other spiritual adepts.
Here are four of the Sixteen Arhats depicted in The Kingdom of Dali Buddhist Volume of Paintings by Zhang Shengwen
Few historical records and Buddhist texts existed have detailed what arhats look like. Hence, most depiction was derived from the imagination and observation of artists, painters and craftsmen.
Here are six of the Sixteen Arhats depicted in The Kingdom of Dali Buddhist Volume of Paintings by Zhang Shengwen
In a later period, two other arhats, Nantimitolo (also known as the Taming Dragon Lohan in Chinese) and Pindola (also known as the Taming Tiger Lohan in Chinese), were added to the group.
Here are six of the Sixteen Arhats depicted in The Kingdom of Dali Buddhist Volume of Paintings by Zhang Shengwen
The expanded group became more popular in China while the worship of the sixteen arhats is more common in Japan and Tibet.
Sixteen Arhats. Anonymous.
Back to the handscroll, it was executed by an anonymous painter, possibly from the 13th-14th century. Sixteen Arhats illustrates the lives and preaching scenes of the sixteen lohans. Each lohan and every element on the scroll was meticulously and vividly rendered in vigorous brushstrokes.
Sixteen Arhats. Anonymous.
This handscroll has been generally regarded as an important work by a great master of the Yuan dynasty or earlier. Some connoisseurs have even attributed it to the Song painter, Li Gonglin (1049-1106).
Sixteen Arhats. Anonymous.
The current handscroll was previously sold for HK$2.58m with buyer's premium at Christie's Hong Kong in 2005. It is now estimated at US$80,000 - 1m at the coming Fine Chinese Paintings sale at Christie's New York.
Sixteen Arhats. Anonymous (13th-14th Century).
Handscroll, Ink on Paper.
Lot no.: 30
Size: 31.5 x 894cm
Two collector’s seals of Zhao Mengfu (1254-1322)
Provenance:
Lot 948, 30 May 2005, Fine Classical Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy, Christie’s Hong Kong.
Exhibited:
- Frank Caro Gallery, New York, 1974.
- Hong Kong City Hall, Hong Kong, date unknown.
Estimate: US$800,000 - 1,000,000
Auction details
Auction house: Christie's New York
Sale: Fine Chinese Paintings
Lots offered: 154
Viewing:
2018/3/16 - 17｜10am - 5pm
2018/3/18｜1pm - 5pm
2018/3/19｜10am - 5pm
Auction: 2018/3/20｜10am