Luohan; China, possibly Ming dynasty (1368-1644).

Luohan; China, possibly Ming dynasty (1368-1644).
Wood with traces of polychrome.
The hand is a restitution of a later period.
Measurements: 52 x 28 x 20 cm.
A luohan is a follower of the Buddha who has reached spiritual perfection or enlightenment. In Chinese Buddhism, a cult of the eighteen luohan developed as guardians and protectors of Buddhist doctrine. The luohan are tasked with safeguarding the Buddhist teachings until the arrival of the Buddha of the Future, and are depicted as living as hermits in the mountains. They are believed to possess supernatural powers, such as the ability to change size and to see and hear everything.
The Ming dynasty is one of the longest periods in Chinese history, lasting approximately three centuries. After the Yuan period of foreign domination, the Ming period saw the reestablishment of traditional Chinese values. The seventeen emperors of this dynasty reigned in a state of relative peace and prosperity, and belonged to the Han ethnic group (the majority in China), as did the civil service. The economy will be transformed from an agrarian state to a completely mercantile one at the end of the dynasty.