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Portraits of 500 Arhats: 庚 – Geng, 7th Heavenly Stem Ink on paper, 39 x 1,820 cm, after Wang Fangyue, 1757 National Library of China, Beijing |
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| A collection of arhats is dispersed throughout a dense, tree-filled terrain, appearing in various states of spiritual focus. Some arhats walk in single file along narrow paths, their expressions calm and their gestures measured, as if advancing toward a shared goal. Others are seated in small groups on natural ledges, engaging in discussion or listening intently, while a few sit in stillness with hands pressed together in prayer. Scattered among them are figures holding objects—perhaps ritual items or offerings—contributing to a sense of reverence. Higher up, solitary arhats sit apart from the rest, absorbed in meditation. The atmosphere is one of quiet resolution, as the arhats, through prayer, contemplation, and fellowship, approach the serenity of Nirvana—the final release from worldly ties and the fulfilment of their spiritual journey. |
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