Skip to main content
Arhats (Chinese: luohan) are the earliest followers of the Buddha and usually represented in sets ranging from sixteen to five hundred. This one is not identified, and he probably once belonged to a Chinese set. The arhat is shown in a meditative pose with his hands folded in front of his chest with his index fingers stretched and his gaze seemingly directed towards them.
Unidentified Arhat
OriginChina
Date17th century
Dimensions4 3/8 × 3 3/8 × 2 1/8 in.
MediumGilt brass
Classification(s)
Credit LineRubin Museum of Art
Object numberC2005.16.61
Himalayan Art Resources Number65484
DescriptionThis seated arhat represents an interesting stylistic amalgam of Himalayan and Chinese artistic traditions. If it were not for the hand gestures and the head the image could well be Tibetan, as the robe falls similarly to Tibetan Buddha depictions and the double lotus is typical of the region. However, other features of the arhat are all typical of Chinese depictions and do not occur in common Tibetan depictions.Arhats (Chinese: luohan) are the earliest followers of the Buddha and usually represented in sets ranging from sixteen to five hundred. This one is not identified, and he probably once belonged to a Chinese set. The arhat is shown in a meditative pose with his hands folded in front of his chest with his index fingers stretched and his gaze seemingly directed towards them.
Not on view
late 19th or 20th century
16th century
17th - 18th century
Date unknown
1736–1795
18th - 19th century
late 18th century, ca. 1760s
Dated by inscription, 1667