Five Hundred Arhats No.493 · The Venerable Pouring Dharma-Water | Traditional Hand-Painted Chinese Ink Zen Buddhist Figure Painting | 100×50cm

Five Hundred Arhats · No.493 The Venerable Pouring Dharma-Water

'Pouring Dharma-water' means pouring the nectar-water of true Dharma into beings' hearts, washing the dust of affliction, moistening the heart with Dharma-water, growing wholesome sprouts; the name marks one who pours Dharma-water, nourishing all beings. The venerable makes a pouring gesture with a fresh look, possessing the freshness of pouring true-Dharma water, washing dust, moistening the heart with Dharma-water, nourishing wholesome roots with nectar.

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