Luohan head; China, Qing Dynasty, XVII- XVIII century.

Luohan head; China, Qing Dynasty, XVII- XVIII century.
Sandstone.
Measurements: 41 x 28 x 18 cm; 57 x 32 x 33 x 33 cm (with stand).
Head carved in sandstone representing desire. In the traditional Buddhist belief, the luohan is a disciple who has reached enlightenment through an intense personal effort. From the 9th century onward, the luohan cult and its depiction in art evolved mainly in the context of the Chan (Zen), or "meditation", sect of Buddhism.
Under the Qing, inherited art forms flourished and innovations occurred at many levels and in many types. High levels of literacy, a successful publishing industry, thriving cities, and the Confucian emphasis on cultivation nurtured a lively and creative set of cultural fields. uring this period, the European tendency to imitate Chinese artistic traditions, known as chinoiserie, also gained great popularity in Europe due to increased trade with China and the broader current of Orientalism.