E​u​l​o​g​i​e​s​ ​o​n​ ​t​h​e​ ​E​i​g​h​t​e​e​n​ ​A​r​h​a​t​s​ ​P​a​i​n​t​i​n​g​s

The Eighteen Arhats constitute an East Asian Buddhist iconographic system developed from the tradition of the Sixteen Arhats, often depicted in compositions featuring venerable figures in various poses, attendants, mythical beasts, rocks, trees, and other elements, serving both devotional and aesthetic purposes. This item is attributed to hymns by Su Dongpo and eulogies by Wang Yanzhou, demonstrating the integration of Buddhist arhat imagery with the literati tradition of inscriptive poetry. Su Shi and Wang Shizhen both exerted profound influence in Chinese literary history, painting and calligraphy connoisseurship, and the culture of colophons and inscriptions; the associated eulogies provide clues for understanding the literati reception of arhat imagery.