Antique Wood and Lacquer Monk (Lohan), China (16241BHK) $785

Description

18 original Lohans were the major disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha whom he, at his death bed, entrusted to protect and promulgate Buddhist teachings. Over centuries, their numbers increased to over 500 enlightened beings recognized for their courage and supernatural powers. In Mahayana Buddhism, Lohans represent the ideal toward which Buddhist devotees should strive as they have perfect knowledge of all things and can ensure perfection in others. Through training, wisdom and spiritual efforts, they have reached a level of understanding and can attain Buddhahood (enlightenment) and, although they could reach Nirvana they chose to remain on earth in human form to spread Buddha’s teachings until the coming of Maitreya. Unlike other enlightened beings, Lohans are portrayed as realistic unidealized images of people with individualized features. Lohan statues often line temple and monastery walls and sometimes smaller clan temples. This, like most traditional images, has pendulous ears, the sign of spiritual superiority and reaching Buddhahood and Enlightenment and their identification as Taoist sages. Shaved heads reflecting their detachment from worldly pleasures and renunciation of mundane desires, and their monk’s robes often have long sleeves covering hands and knees while draped over the left shoulder and fastened with a prominent shoulder ring. This antique Chinese wood carving sits with hands in dhyana mudra (meditation) with covered legs crossed in padmasana, the lotus position. His detailed clothing ia highlighted with gilt and decorated with raised curvilinear designs of wire-like strands of dough made from incense ash and lacquer, which is unusual, as Lohans rarely wear elaborate robes. The shoulder roundels have raised designs of birds, curvilinear designs border the robes, and a square bordered panel below the chest is centered with another bird. Made to be seen on all sides, the back is fully carved with the draped sash obscuring a cavity closed with the original bung indicating it was consecrated. Despite the age related fading and darkening of the lacquer and a small crack, this piece is in very good condition.

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