Five Hundred Arhats No.1 · The Venerable Ājñāta-kauṇḍinya | Traditional Hand-Painted Chinese Ink Zen Buddhist Figure Painting | 100×50cm

Five Hundred Arhats · No.1 The Venerable Ājñāta-kauṇḍinya

Ājñāta-kauṇḍinya was the foremost of the first five bhikṣus the Buddha converted after enlightenment, and the first to realize the Dharma and receive ordination in the Saṅgha. The venerable is shown with serene features and calm poise, bearing the composure of the very first to witness the truth.

Painted by Li Zongyi in the freehand Chinese ink (xieyi) tradition, the brushwork is fluent and the ink tones layered from dense to pale, capturing the arhat’s spirit in a few assured strokes. The blank paper itself breathes Zen; figure and spirit are one, blending monastic solemnity with the literati’s ease. Each of the Five Hundred Arhats bears its own name and practice, uniting faith, art and collectibility — an original, non-reproducible hand-painted work.

Size: approx. 100×50cm (4.5 square chi) | Traditional hand-painted Chinese ink Zen Buddhist figure painting | On paper