Five Hundred Arhats No.194 · The Venerable Vasumitra | Traditional Hand-Painted Chinese Ink Zen Buddhist Figure Painting | 100×50cm

Five Hundred Arhats · No.194 The Venerable Vasumitra

Vasumitra ('friend of the world') was one of the four great masters of the Sarvāstivāda, who composed the Prakaraṇapāda and traced the origins of the early schools; listed among the five hundred arhats, the name marks one who distinguishes worldly and transworldly dharmas and is a true friend of the world. The venerable has the composed air of a master of doctrine with a discerning look; without inventing specific deeds, it conveys his deep, learned wisdom in classifying the marks of the Dharma.

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