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Portraits of 500 Arhats: 壬 – Ren, 9th Heavenly Stem
Ink on paper, 39 x 1,820 cm, after Wang Fangyue, 1757
National Library of China, Beijing
 

 

Scattered across a mountainous, forested landscape, arhats make their way along winding paths and through shaded groves, gathering in groups or standing alone in quiet reflection. Some are mid-discussion or caught in gesture, others walk in pairs or pause in meditation, each absorbed in their own spiritual journey. At the centre, a grand stupa draws a cluster of reverent figures, while nearby, a temple—guarded by fierce deities—marks the threshold to a higher realm. A serene figure looks out from above, overseeing the sacred space. Celestial beings drift among the clouds and trees, their presence subtle yet watchful. This is a realm beyond the ordinary world, where the monks, now arhats, dwell in nirvana—free from suffering, existing in a state of clarity, detachment and timeless peace.