BiographyPress ReleasesContact




14. LARGE REDDISH SOAPSTONE FIGURE OF A LUOHAN
Late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), 17th Century
6 1/2” (16.5cm) high

The reddish stone is dramatically carved as a bearded luohan with strong foreign features of Western Asiatic origin, possibly of Bodhidharma, one of the earliest proselytizers from India, often portrayed with protruberant eyes, bushy brows and beard. More likely this is a portrayal of Fuhu, the tiger taming luohan who along with Xianglong - shown usually with a dragon - are the two additions to the original sixteen luohan.