Five Hundred Arhats No.488 · The Venerable Hidden in Conduct | Traditional Hand-Painted Chinese Ink Zen Buddhist Figure Painting | 100×50cm

Five Hundred Arhats · No.488 The Venerable Hidden in Conduct

'Hidden in conduct' means ever concealing one's tracks, veiling one's light, not praising oneself, secretly cultivating virtuous action, benefiting others in hidden practice within quiet places; the name marks one who hides his virtue, secretly acting for others. The venerable makes a veiled gesture with a reserved look, possessing the restraint of ever-hidden tracks, veiled light without display, secretly cultivating virtue, benefiting others without self-display.

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