Luohan on the Back of a Lion

Chinese Collection

Accession Nr.: 61.13.1
Type: painting
Date of production:
12th–13th centuries
Song dynasty
Place of production:
Materials: silk
Dimensions: width: 34.5 cm
length: 42.3 cm
Seated on a brown lion's back holding an alms-bowl. Luohan (“worthy of honours”, arhat in Sanskrit): Buddha Shakyamuni’s first disciples and followers who reached the outmost level of spiritual evolution, the Enlightment. However, they chose to stay in this world in order to preserve his teachings and to give strength to those with shaken faith until the arrival of Maitreya, the future Buddha. Album painting.