Five Hundred Arhats No.259 · The Venerable Sundara | Traditional Hand-Painted Chinese Ink Zen Buddhist Figure Painting | 100×50cm

Five Hundred Arhats · No.259 The Venerable Sundara

Sundara (literally 'handsome, excellent') was the name of disciples in the Buddha's time, such as Sundarananda, noted for their striking beauty; listed among the five hundred arhats, the name is taken as title to signify dignified bearing and pure holy conduct. The venerable has handsome features and a bright look; the title is kept objectively without invented deeds, conveying only dignified holy conduct and pure taming.

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