Five Hundred Arhats No.241 · The Venerable Holder of Wholesome Dharma | Traditional Hand-Painted Chinese Ink Zen Buddhist Figure Painting | 100×50cm

Five Hundred Arhats · No.241 The Venerable Holder of Wholesome Dharma

'Holder of wholesome dharma' means to receive and keep every wholesome dharma, mindful without forgetting or losing, holding the good so wholesome roots grow; the name marks one who keeps the true teaching and guards it without loss. The venerable makes a holding gesture with a steadfast look, possessing the firmness of receiving the good, guarding it mindfully, and letting the wholesome dharmas one practices continue and grow.

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