清 水晶雕笑獅羅漢|Luohan with a lion cub

Unknown

18th century · Rock crystal · Asian Art

Enlightened Buddhist disciples are known in China as “luohan” (arhat in Sanskrit), and they have been an important subject in Chinese art since the tenth century. They are often depicted in groups of sixteen, eighteen, and even five hundred figures. This rock-crystal figure can be identified as Vijraputra, who is often shown playing with a lion cub. Here, the lively cub and meditating luohan illustrate the coexistence of joy and peace.

Artist

Unknown

Date

18th century

Medium

Rock crystal

Culture

China

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Florence and Herbert Irving, 2015