Description

These large gilt-bronze figures are luohans, or arhats in Sanskrit, followers of the Buddha who have achieved enlightenment and have been freed from the cycles of rebirth. While both seated figures have the serene expressions and clean-shaven heads typical of monks, their robes are different. The Chinese-style monastic robe covers both shoulders of the arhat on the proper left, while the other arhat's robe leaves the right's shoulder and upper torso exposed, more typical of monks' attire in India.