Eighteen Arahants

According to Buddhist literature, the eighteen arahants are the original followers of the Buddha who were sent on earth to protect the Buddhist faith. There were only sixteen arahants in the Tang dynasty (618-907 AD) and the number increased to eighteen in the Song dynasty (960-1279 AD). By the vivid portrayal of each of these eighteen arahants together with the animals they ride, the artisan has created a solemn religious piece, by looking at which one may forget worldly affairs.