$15,000.00
Description
Head of Lohan
China, Song Dynasty (960 – 1127 AD)
Stone
Height: 10 in
While the figure of Buddha sitting with hands clasped is perhaps the most famous Buddhist icon, the 18 Lohans or Arhats are also an important part of any Buddhist temple. Lohans are followers of Buddhism’s “Eightfold Path” who have achieved full spiritual fulfillment. They have reached “Nirvana,” the state of absolute freedom from worldly cravings, and because of this they are no longer subject to reincarnation. Their eternal status makes them akin to guardian angels, adept at warding off evil.
The Song dynasty is a period recognized for its achievements in the arts, particularly painting. However, by 1115 the Jin Dynasty (1115–1234) wrested control of the north and west while the Song only controlled the south. The capital moved south to Linan (now called Hangzhou, Zhejiang province) and the Southern Song Dynasty became isolated in effect, from the main overland trade route to western Asia.
For the Song it became a period of consolidation, accompanied by a reassessment of national identity which saw the court again turning to the pursuit of the arts and intellectual thought. Artistic expression reflected the serene, contemplative nature of Buddhism alongside the more sentimental Daoist philosophy. The Confucian doctrine was reinterpreted with renewed emphasis on the concepts of yin and yang, the ‘Five Elements’ and a Supreme Being. Five ‘qualities’ became associated with the elements: benevolence with wood, righteousness with metal, reverence with fire, wisdom with water and sincerity with earth.
