Five Hundred Arhats No.136 · The Venerable Upholder of Wisdom | Traditional Hand-Painted Chinese Ink Zen Buddhist Figure Painting | 100×50cm

Five Hundred Arhats · No.136 The Venerable Upholder of Wisdom

'Upholder of wisdom' means to receive and keep the wisdom of the true Dharma, mindful at every moment, sustaining the wisdom-life without loss; the name marks one skilled at holding wholesome dharmas so wisdom is never broken. The venerable holds his hands as if bearing the Dharma-jewel with focused attention, possessing the steadfastness that keeps wisdom without loss, sustains the wisdom-life, and guards himself while watching over others through wisdom.

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