The Five Hundred Arhats
五百罗汉图
A handscroll over 26 metres long depicting 447 luohans (arhats), 72 attendants, and the bodhisattva of compassion at the very end. The luohans are climbing trees, riding tigers, walking on water, conjuring dragons — every supernatural ability the texts ascribe to them, all on one continuous strip of paper.
Object Facts
- Period
- Late Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
- Date
- 1591–1626
- Artist
- Wu Bin (吴彬)
- Medium
- Handscroll; ink and color on paper
- Dimensions
- Image: 39.5 × 2646.5 cm (over 26 metres long)
- Held by
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
Cleveland, USA - Accession
- 1971.16
Cleveland Museum of Art — John L. Severance Fund
Why it matters
Wu Bin was a lay Buddhist who made painting itself a form of spiritual exercise. His luohan scrolls are simultaneously religious icons and visionary fantasias, and this Cleveland scroll is the longest, most ambitious of them all.
How it travelled
Held in private Chinese collections through Qing, exported via Shanghai in the early 20th century. Cleveland purchased it in 1971 via the Severance Fund.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I see The Five Hundred Arhats?+
The Five Hundred Arhats is held by the The Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland, USA. Accession number 1971.16. Online catalogue record: https://clevelandart.org/art/1971.16.
When was The Five Hundred Arhats created?+
The Five Hundred Arhats dates to 1591–1626, during the Late Ming dynasty (1368–1644).
Who made The Five Hundred Arhats?+
The Five Hundred Arhats is attributed to Wu Bin (吴彬). The work is a handscroll executed in handscroll; ink and color on paper.
How did The Five Hundred Arhats end up at the Cleveland Museum?+
Held in private Chinese collections through Qing, exported via Shanghai in the early 20th century. Cleveland purchased it in 1971 via the Severance Fund.
Can I reuse the photograph of The Five Hundred Arhats?+
Yes. The Cleveland Museum has released the image under Creative Commons Zero (CC0), so it is free for any use, commercial or non-commercial, with no attribution required (though attribution is appreciated).
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