Tianwang and Arhat Thangka

[Tianwang and Arhat Thangka]

Tianwang and Arhat Thangka, 18th century, Tibet, cloth, color, overall height 139 cm, width 69 cm, painting center 63 cm in length, horizontal 42 cm. The old collection of the Qing Palace
In the Tibetan legend picture, the Han Arhat was a messenger when Emperor Suzong of the Tang Dynasty invited the Sixteen Indian Arhats to China. As an attendant, he often appeared in the paintings of the Sixteen Arhat of Tibetan Buddhism, becoming the 18th so-called Eighteen Arhat, commonly known as the “Bag Monk”. “Arhat”, also known as “arhat”, is the highest fruit of Mahayana Buddhism
The Arhat in the Han Dynasty has a dark complexion, a big belly, half lying on his back, a rosary in his right hand, a peach in his left hand, a smile on his face, and a broad and gorgeous cassock, surrounded by a group of happy dancing children, which is similar to the image of the cloth bag monk in the familiar Buddhist art in the Han Dynasty. Below are the Southern Growth Heavenly King (with blue body and sword) and the Eastern Holding Heavenly King (with white body and pipa). The four Heavenly Kings are often accompanied by the Eighteen Arhat as guardians of Buddhism. Behind Arhat, the bodhi tree is full of flowers and fruits. Above his head is the statue of Zongkaba, the founder of the Yellow Sect
On the back of the Thangka, there is a white silk label, which is inscribed in four characters of Han, Manchu, Mongolian and Tibetan in ink. The Chinese text is: “On February 15, the 28th year of Qianlong’s reign, the emperor ordered Ajiahu Turktu to recognize the axis of the portrait of the king of heaven… the fourth from the right”.

天王与和尚唐卡背后白绫签