The sage Nakula was once a fierce warrior, and after he converted to the Buddhist faith, he sat and mediated about the truth of the universe. Upon reaching enlightenment, he began preaching Buddhism to help people attain enlightenment. He is also known as “The Silently Seated Arhat”.
There are no clear descriptions of each Arhat stated in Buddhist scriptures, which provides artists with room for interpretation and freedom of expression when it comes to Arhat portraits. Xia Jing Shan opted with simple brushwork that is profoundly meaningful. The sage is depicted here sitting silently on a withered lotus leaf, and the image ingeniously conveys the sage’s enlightened state of mind as he sits by the water, while also inviting the viewers to freely imagine and interpret what they see.
简中｜罗汉（诺矩罗尊者）
Paintings
Xia Jing Shan
ink and color on silk
67x46
1995
印記：荊山藏畫、夏荊山、楠竹居士
NB-00066
