Past Exhibitions
- Song and Yuan Paintings of Taoist and Buddhist Figures
- March 17, 2015 - April 12, 2015
Not all religious paintings in China were made to be worshiped. Many works depicting famous Taoist and Buddhist figures were made for aesthetic appreciation. Especially popular among monks of the Zen (Chan) sect were images of the White Robed Avalokiteshvara (Ch: Guanyin; J: Kannon), images of Buddhist elders called arhats (Ch: luohan; J: rakan), and scenes of "dharma combat" (J: mondo) between high priests. Such paintings seemed to give hints about Buddhist enlightenment. This exhibition features masterwork ink paintings of religious figures dating from China's Song (960–1279) and Yuan (1271–1368) dynasties.