Five Hundred Arhats Sutra (五百羅漢尊號)

About 五百羅漢尊號

Ming · by 高道素手錄

6,076 · about 20 min

"The Register of the Five Hundred Arhats' Venerable Titles," compiled by the lay Buddhist Gao Daosu in the Ming Dynasty, is a Chinese Buddhist text that systematically organizes the names of the Five Hundred Arhats. Completed against the backdrop of a Buddhist revival in the late Ming period, the author extensively gathered materials from historical scriptures and folk legends, assembling a relatively complete system of the Arhats' venerable titles. The content primarily lists the specific names of the five hundred Arhats, each accompanied by a unique title, such as Pindola Bharadvaja and Kanakavatsa, showcasing the systematic construction of the Arhat community within Chinese Buddhism. This work not only filled a gap in the lineage records of Chinese Arhats but also became an important reference for later temple sculptures and artistic creations. It holds a pivotal role in connecting past and future developments in Buddhist art and faith dissemination, serving as a key document for the study of Chinese Arhat culture.