Instant display and collection, one of a kind.

From western China and collected some 20 years ago, comes this group of three (3) large hand carved red sandstone Lohans or Monks dating to the early 20th century.

These characters feature fantastic and exaggerated eyes, ears, eye brows and cranials.

Tallest measures 16 inches high

Photographed in natural day light.

Good garden candidates!

About Luohans (lohans or Monks)
Luohans are Buddhist figures, in sanskrit known as Arhat or “destroyer of enemy” (desires) or deserving or worthy” . A luohan supposedly has passed through all the stages of enlightenment, the eight fold path and has conquered all the desires that enmesh a person in a continuous cycle of birth and death. They are regarded as saints reaching nirvana and are attributed with supernatural powers. Ananda is considered one of the principal disciples of the Buddha. He was a first cousin of the Buddha and was deeply attached to him. His counterpart, Kassapa, when hearing of A´nanda’s attainment of arahantship, led the applause. A´nanda held him in the highest veneration.

The Song (Sung) Dynasty helped to reunify Cchina after the fall of T’ang and developed the Lohans role. The Song Dynasty is noted for a revival of ancient Confucian beliefs. The enlightened rulers urged construction of Buddhist temples with rows of eighteen or sixteen lohans a difference due to Buddhist texts. Lohan, derived from sanskrit Arhan, is a disciple of Buddha who is enlightened. Lohans became popular since the T’ang Dynasty. By the time of the Song Dynasty, artists depicted each Lohan with different facial features.

Lifetime Guarantee of Authenticity: All of our Asian works of art come with our Lifetime Authenticity Guarantee.

Our gallery based in Newport, Rhode Island USA has been dealing in authentic Pre-Columbian, Japanese and fine Asian art, garden ornaments, lanterns and water basins for 25 years. Our president personally travels across America as well as Japan and Europe each year to meet his network partners who assist him in finding best examples. He personally inspects each antique work of art to ensure its old age, authenticity and quality condition.