Arhat (<em>Nakula</em>), one of a set of sixteen

Ryozen (ca. 1328-ca. 1360) · mid-14th century

Arhats, known in Japanese as rakan, were disciples of the Historical Buddha, Shakyamuni. In some temples in East Asia, they were worshiped along with the Historical Buddha at ceremonies held to honor the wisdom and truth of the Buddha’s teachings, which they helped to spread after his death. This painting depicts one of the sixteen arhats who were the Historical Buddha’s closest disciples. The halo signifies that he has achieved enlightenment and release from cycles of birth, rebirth, and attendant suffering. This set of sixteen paintings plus a central image of Shakyamuni are attributed to the artist Ryozen, a leader of the atelier at Tofukuji, a major Zen Buddhist monastery in Kyoto. Before Charles Lang Freer purchased these works, they were in the collection of the renowned painter and lacquer artist Shibata Zeshin (1807–1891).