GENERAL DESCRIPTION
This figure of a monk contemplating a lotus flower is a representation of an arhat (Japanese: rakan), one of a group of holy men who were original disciples of the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni. Arhats were regarded as having achieved extraordinary spiritual levels but, like bodhisattvas, put off their own enlightenment to help others. Usually appearing in painted or sculptural groups from as few as four to as many as one thousand, the arhats were depicted with portrait-like fidelity as monks and ascetics. Stylistically, this sculpture closely follows the exaggerated realism of China's Ming dynasty (1368-1644) religious sculpture, which was transmitted to Japan in the 17th century with a new sect of Zen Buddhism, known in Japan as Obaku.
Adapted from
- "Portrait of an arhat (rakan)," in Dallas Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection, ed. Suzanne Kotz (Dallas: Dallas Museum of Art; New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1997), 45.
- DMA Connect.
NOTES
I'm unsure this is a statue from the Gohyaku Rakan Ji (500 Arhat Temple) that was in Edo. The temple was moved to Meguro in the early 20th century and only 300 or so of the statues have survived. Stylistically this statue does indeed look as though it could have belonged to the group (see image below), however, I can find no documentation in the object file that provides evidence for this claim. I will leave it for now, but think it needs further research.
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General Description
This figure of a monk contemplating a lotus flower is a representation of an arhat (Japanese: rakan), one of a group of holy men who were original disciples of the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni. Arhats were regarded as having achieved extraordinary spiritual levels but, like bodhisattvas, put off their own enlightenment to help others. Usually appearing in painted or sculptural groups from as few as four to as many as one thousand, the arhats were depicted with portrait-like fidelity as monks and ascetics. Stylistically, this sculpture closely follows the exaggerated realism of China's Ming dynasty (1368-1644) religious sculpture, which was transmitted to Japan in the 17th century with a new sect of Zen Buddhism, known in Japan as Obaku.
Adapted from
- "Portrait of an arhat (rakan)," in Dallas Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection, ed. Suzanne Kotz (Dallas: Dallas Museum of Art; New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1997), 45.
- DMA Connect.
Fun Facts
Archival Resources
Web Resources
Notes
I'm unsure this is a statue from the Gohyaku Rakan Ji (500 Arhat Temple) that was in Edo. The temple was moved to Meguro in the early 20th century and only 300 or so of the statues have survived. Stylistically this statue does indeed look as though it could have belonged to the group (see image below), however, I can find no documentation in the object file that provides evidence for this claim. I will leave it for now, but think it needs further research.
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Geography
Process/materials
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
rules
Apply To
Objects
number
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1991.381
source file
object_notes_2_d-0289.xml.nores