The Five Hundred Lohans

K'ossu picture scroll depicting the Five Hundred Lohan. The story is divided into nine episodes Buddha Descending from the Western Heaven; Ju Lai Exhorting the Ignorants; Proclaiming the Wonderful Truth; Glowing Rays Shining on Heaven and Earth; the Whole Universe is Enlightened; Gold Mountain and Wisdom Sea; A Mother Heart Benefits the People; Precious Gold Tripod and Long-Lived Buddha; Return to the Western Heaven. The story and the various episodes, are recorded in ten Chinese poems at the end of the scroll. The five characters on outside of scroll give the Title WU PAI LO HAN HSIANG (500 Lohan Images). The four Chinese characters on the pale yellow silk reserved for imperial use, are but the hand of Emperor Ch'ien Lung who made them in 1796, the year after the his abdication. the three small seals are felicitations. the scroll is mounted in fine yellow k'ossu with an all-over ground of geometric medallions in color. White jade clasp. For full description, see Accession file.

Former Classification: Textiles - Tapestry