Five Hundred Arhats No.232 · The Venerable Maṇi Jewel | Traditional Hand-Painted Chinese Ink Zen Buddhist Figure Painting | 100×50cm

Five Hundred Arhats · No.232 The Venerable Maṇi Jewel

'Maṇi jewel' is the wish-fulfilling gem, pure and roundly bright, raining treasure at whatever is sought so all is fulfilled; the name marks one endowed with maṇi-jewel virtue, wishes fulfilled, merit and wisdom complete. The venerable looks roundly bright as if holding a treasure within, possessing the completeness of the wish-fulfilling gem—pure and spotless, raining treasure by vow, enriching self and others through his store of virtue.

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