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Portraits of 500 Arhats: 甲 – Jia, first Heavenly Stem
Ink on paper, 39 x 1,820 cm, after Wang Fangyue, 1757
National Library of China, Beijing
 

 

A mountainous forest filled with arhats, or Buddhist monks who have attained enlightenment, stretches across the scene, with groups and individuals occupying various clearings and rocky outcrops. Some arhats gather in animated clusters, gesturing and conversing, while others sit alone in quiet meditation. Near the centre, a traditional gate or pavilion rises among the trees, partially sheltered by the surrounding foliage, with arhats positioned within and around it. On the right, a group traverses a natural stone bridge over a stream, their forms calm and assured. The background is rich with dense vegetation, winding paths, and rugged cliffs, creating a secluded world where the arhats dwell in harmony, having reached nirvana beyond worldly concerns.