Page 198 - Important Chinese Art Hong Kong April 2, 2019 Sotheby's

Fig. 1
Qing Gaozong yuzhi shiwen quanji [Anthology of imperial Qianlong poems and proses], Yuzhi wen chu ji [Imperial proses, vol. 1], juan 29: zan, pp. 1-2
圖一
《清高宗御製詩文全集．御製文初集》，卷29，贊，頁1-2

The inscription at the top, finely inlaid with imperial Qianlong poems and text], Yuzhi wen The 4th Arhat Kalika
jade, together with the meticulously detailed chu ji [Imperial text, vol. 1], juan 29: zan, pp. Shaking the rock, he leans his knee on it and
figures on the lower section, tells the stories 1-3; Nick Pearce, ‘Images of Guanxiu’s Sixteen there takes his rest. It is only this superior
of eight eminent luohan, or arhats, close Luohan in Eighteenth-Century China’, Apollo, being, neither speaking nor silent, that has
personal disciples of the historical Buddha February 2003, pp. 25-31; fig. 1). The first part such eyebrows that trail to the ground. As
Shakyamuni. The iconography of the arhats is of the text can be translated as follows: he pulls them up by hand, does he not seem
based on a legendary set of paintings, which The 1st Arhat Angaja to be sorting through clouds, and this shows
fascinated the Qianlong Emperor and inspired how very fine they are.
artworks in a great variety of media. The fine Wearing a hundred-patch robe and leaning
embellishments, on the other hand, testify to on a proper bamboo staff, his Vedic ritual The 5th Arhat Vajraputra
the exceptional workmanship and effective texts in a book case, he stares at his Visage with high forehead and prominent
cooperation of various artisans of the Qianlong akshamalika straight across his chest. What nose, in his person a haunted look,
period. he has remembered is not nothing, although yet friendliness is somehow in it—who
there are no words for it.
The eight luohan on the present screen, knows how! He has taken the sutras and
depicted with distinctive exaggerated features, The 2nd Arhat Ajita thrown them to the ground, for his task of
originated with the famous late Tang to Five Grasping his knees he sits alone, utterly practicing and studying is finished. Though
Dynasties painter Guanxiu (823-912), whose oblivious, seemingly free from troubles of the Buddhahood still abides not in him, how
hugely influential rendition of each arhat’s mind. But his mind is that of a bodhisattva, much the less is non-Buddhahood there!
iconography is seen on a number of Qing while his appearance is that of a king of The 6th Arhat Bhadra
dynasty works of art. In the 22nd year of his hungry ghosts. With his left hand he applies
reign (corresponding to 1757), the Qianlong sandalwood fragrance, and with his right he Head consecrated with water, he has a big
Emperor embarked upon a tour of southern cuts with a sharp sword. But what hatred, square jaw and wears a monk’s robe. When
China and visited Hangzhou where he resided what mercy does he ever feel, since he is he chanted gathas about the seven past
near Shengyin Si, the monastery that owned equally free of both! buddhas, everyone could hear him. Eyes
the original paintings of the sixteen luohan by aware to the emptiness of phenomenal
Guanxiu. The Emperor believed the paintings The 3rd Arhat Vanavasin appearance, he let sandpiper and clam
to be the same set that had been recorded in Eyes closed amidst the crags, he grasps perish in deadlock. Now he sits in lotus
the Xuanhe Huapu [The Xuande catalogue of non-arising and so attains perfect patience. position, his task as itinerant monk finished.
paintings], the inventory of the Song dynasty Phenomena and principle all vanish as if they The 7th Arhat Kanakavatsa
emperor Huizong. Upon examining the were flowing water or scudding clouds, and
paintings, the Emperor wrote a eulogy to each moment by moment he just takes things as In a former life he was Drinker of Light and
luohan image, renumbering them and providing they come – thoughts happen and there they in a later life he was Huili. From Vulture Peak
a translation of their names in Chinese (Qing are. So even this good kalpa with its buddhas in India he knew to fly here. Though he has
Gaozong yuzhi shiwen quanji [Anthology of several pairs of straw boots and a single
with awe-inspiring voice is for him gone in bamboo staff, these he may put aside and
the blink of an eye.
forever dwell at the Source of Holiness.

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