18 LOHANS | |||
EIGHTEEN ARHATS (Lo-Hans), not depicted in this il us- tration but often appearing in other versions of the Chinese Buddhist Pantheon, are usual y represented as possessing vari- ous kinds of supernatural power, symbolised either by objects held in their hands or by wild animals crouching submissively beside them. ese are perfected beings who have listened and practised the teachings of the Buddha. In Chinese Buddhism there are a number of famous groups of Arhants of which this group of eighteen is the most popular. IN THE GREAT HALL THE EIGHTEEN LOHANS ARE FOUND NINE ON EACH SIDE OF THE WALLS. THE ABOVE PICTURE ONLY SHOWS PART OF THE NINE LOHANS ON ONE SIDE. INCENSE ARE OFTEN OFFERED TO THEM AS A MARK OF RESPECT FOR THEIR SPIRITUAL ATTAINMENTS. ¡ûBACK¡û |INDEX| ¡úNEXT¡ú |