Standing Statue of Arhat

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There are refined sculptures of Arhats in Lingyan Temple, Changqing County, Shandong, which represent the highest level of clay sculptures of the Northern Song Dynasty. This Standing Statue of Arhat is among them. This artwork highlights the wonderful moment of a middle-aged arhat watching at object. He holds a handkerchief to put under right hand. And his right hand carefully pinches a little thing to be concentrated on watching it. This artwork features complete shape, sophisticated artistic skills, vivid image and true-to-life character and facial expression.

This statue is also excellent among sculptures in Lingyan Temple. It describes an eloquent clever arhat, with rigorous structure and proper proportion. Arhat turns the head to right side, looks over with wise and confident emotion in his eyes . He uses forefinger of right hand to point at something . Exposed forecheast makes the bold bone obvious, and the skin seems elastic. Outer clothing is loose, and pleats pile up before the chest. Left leg bends up, and one leg steps on the base to support the arm.

Sculptures of arhats in the Song Dynasty

The creation of sculptures of arhats ushered in golden age in the Song Dynasty, which not only boasted large scale, but also high artistic level. According to records and ruins, there were dozens of statues of “500 Arhats”. “16 Arhats” and “18 Arhats” were seen everywhere.

Features of sculptures of arhats

Among Buddhist sculptures, sculptures of arhats often feature round dome, bare feet or monk shoes, cassock and few ornaments. Images can freely change. Characters are varying, with complicate facial expression. Arhats are shaped close to the realistic humans compared with “Buddha” and “Bodhisattva”.

Group sculptures of arhats in Lingyan Temple

Lingyan Temple is located at northwest foot of Mount Tai in Changqing County, Shandong. Many sculptures of the Tang Dynasty and the Song Dynasty are kept here. Group clay sculptures of arhats in Qianfo Hall are praised by Liang Qichao as “No.1 Sculptures in the World”. There are 27 sculptures of the Song Dynasty, which all sits are long altar with the size larger than true man. They feature various image, changing gestures and refifi ned and subtle artistic expression.

Arhat

In Buddhism, arhat refers to the person who attains enlightenment as disciple of Buddha. The number of Arhats varies, such as “16 Arhats”, “18 Arhats” and “500 Arhats”.