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Asian Art Museum
Course: Asian Art Museum > Unit 5
Lesson 1: China- Introduction to China
- An introduction to ancient China
- Archaeology and the study of ancient China
- Discoveries in Chinese archaeology
- Bottle with mouth in the shape of a mushroom
- Ritual implements (cong and bi)
- Working jade
- Introduction to the Shang dynasty
- Shang dynasty ritual bronze vessels
- Ritual vessel (fangyi)
- Horse decoration in the form of a taotie mask
- Ritual vessel in the shape of a rhinoceros
- Covered ritual wine vessel (gong)
- Ritual wine vessel (hu)
- Seated Buddha dated 338
- Introduction to the Han dynasty
- Vase with cover
- Cicada
- Money tree
- House model
- Storehouse
- Terracotta Warriors from the mausoleum of the first Qin emperor of China
- An Introduction to the Tang dynasty (618–906)
- Dancer
- Camel
- Central Asian wine peddler
- Stele with the Buddha Shakyamuni and Prabhutaratna
- Stele of the Buddha Maitreya
- Chinese Buddhist cave shrines
- Buddhist Temples at Wutaishan
- An Introduction to the Song dynasty (960–1279)
- Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Chinese: Guanyin)
- Taoism in the Tang and Song dynasties
- Arhat (Chinese: luohan)
- Bowl with brown mottling
- Classical gardens of Suzhou
- An introduction to the Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
- Technology during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
- Covered jar with fish in lotus pond
- Song of the morning
- Appreciating Chinese calligraphy
- Decoding Chinese calligraphy
- Whirling Snow on the River Bank
- Climbing Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)
- The Forbidden City
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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)