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Art of Asia
Course: Art of Asia > Unit 2
Lesson 13: Song dynasty (960–1279)- Song dynasty (960–1279), an introduction
- The art of salvation—Mt. Baoding, Dazu rock carvings
- An Introduction to the Song dynasty (960–1279)
- Master of the (Fishing) Nets Garden
- Gu Kaizhi, Nymph of the Luo River
- Chinese landscape painting
- Mountings: hanging scrolls, handscrolls, fans and the album leaf
- Neo-Confucianism & Fan Kuan, Travelers by Streams and Mountains
- Emperor Huizong, Auspicious Cranes, handscroll
- Attributed to Zhang Zeduan, Along the River during Qingming Festival, handscroll
- Liang Kai, Poet Strolling by a Marshy Bank
- Liang Kai (attributed), White Egret
- Ding ware bowl, Northern Song dynasty
- Ceramic pillow
- Guan ware long-necked vase
- Bowl with “oil spot” glaze
- Bowl with brown mottling
- Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Chinese: Guanyin)
- Arhat (Chinese: luohan)
- “Bodhisattva of Compassion Seated in Royal Ease”
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Arhat (Chinese: luohan)
Dressed in the clothes of a monk and holding a rosary, this emaciated and intense figure has the appearance of an eccentric monk. In fact, he is an example of a special group of Buddhist deities known as arhats. The historical Buddha, Shakyamuni, had a group of disciples who recorded his sayings and continued his teachings after he attained nirvana. These figures were deified as arhats, beings who have reached a stage of perfection through study and meditation. Unlike bodhisattvas, who are noted for their compassion, arhats are noted for their intense powers of spiritual concentration. It is common for Chinese artists to exaggerate certain features of these figures to emphasize their spiritual nature. They are often given qualities associated with Taoist immortals, and they appear in sets of varying numbers, eighteen and five hundred being the most common.
Inscription: [In 1180] people everywhere [of a certain surname?] respectfully had made/donated one luohan image.
Want to join the conversation?
Why were groupings of 8 or 500 common? Why were these numbers special?(4 votes)
In Taoism there are "8 immortals". Arhats in Chinese Buddhism taking some of their characteristics from Taoism, this number is a natural one. As for 500? Your guess is as good as mine.(3 votes)
Does the position of his hands hold any meaning?(1 vote)
Yes, they are are formed in a kind of prayer position.(1 vote)
- Why did they do those things?(0 votes)
- Who are the "they" to whom you refer, the arhats, the Bodhisatvas, or the Chinese artists who made the figurines?
AND, what things to you refer to? The teaching by the arhats or the making of the figurines by the Chinese artists? Clarity on both of these questions will help me seek out an answer for you.(1 vote)