Chinese Painting: Mysterious Saints: Sages and Arhats
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Shouxing (God of longevity)(detail), China, Yuan dynasty, 14th century (Important Art Object)
Asian Gallery (Toyokan) Room 8
September 5, 2017 (Tue) - October 15, 2017 (Sun)Sages in Taoism and arhats in Buddhism have been regarded as saints in their respective religions. In paintings, sages, with their mastery of everlasting youth and life, and arhats, having reached enlightenment, were portrayed with strange countenances when compared to ordinary human beings. This represented their mysterious, secret powers. They were also depicted traveling across waves, or being accompanied by toads, deer, and other mystical beasts, and taming wild beasts such as dragons and tigers. This exhibition features the mysterious worlds of these saints.
Current exhibit includes:
Sahasrabhuja, China, Southern Song dynasty, 13th century (Important Cultural Property, Lent by Eihoji, Gifu)
Sixteen Arhats: The Eleventh Arhat, By Jin Dashou (dates unknown), China, Southern Song dynasty, 12th century (Important Cultural Property)
Shouxing (God of longevity), China, Yuan dynasty, 14th century (Important Art Object)
Heavenly God, China, Yuan dynasty, 14th century (Important Cultural Property, Lent by Reiunji, Tokyo)