Arhat from a series of sixteen Arhats

Arhat from a series of sixteen Arhats

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

According to Buddhist scripture, arhats (Japanese: rakan) are protectors of the Dharma who also use assorted magical powers to assist the faithful. They were frequently depicted in groups of eight, sixteen, eighteen, twenty-eight, or five hundred. The arhats pictured were originally part of a group of sixteen (of which only seven are extant) once owned by Hokokuji, a temple on the island of Shikoku. Each arhat in the set is identified by a cartouche at the upper right or left.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Arhat from a series of sixteen ArhatsArhat from a series of sixteen ArhatsArhat from a series of sixteen ArhatsArhat from a series of sixteen ArhatsArhat from a series of sixteen Arhats

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.