[Leica] IMG: Pindola Bharadvaja

[john.nebel at csdco.com (John Nebel)]

http://thangkas.csd.net/pindola_bharadvaja_16.html

Somewhat different from the previous paintings, this is the first of a 
series of sixteen based on now lost 9th century works.


  "When we examine the Buddhist literature preserved
   in the libraries  of the great monasteries  in China,
   we find in it mention  of only sixteen  great Arhats,
   the number eighteen being apparently  unknown even to
   the  comparatively  modern  native treatises.  As for
   the pictures

   and images of these  sixteen, they are mainly derived
   from  the works  of one or two painters  of the T'ang
   dynasty. About the year 880 an artist named Kuan Hsiu
   made  pictures  of the Sixteen  Lohan, which
   were given to a Buddhist monastery  near Ch'ien-t'ang
   in the province of Chekiang. These became celebrated,
   and were preserved  with great care and treated  with
   ceremonious respect."

   Watters, T.

   The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society 1898.04 p329/30


C&C welcome

John