The Japanese term "Rakan" is an abbreviation of the Japanese term "Arakan (??漢)," itself a translation of the Sanskrit term "Arhan." Also called "Ougu (???)." The highest diciples of Shaka ??迦. In Theravada Buddhism, rakan are revered as having completed their training and ranked as mugaku ?*, "nothing else to learn," which indicates that they achieved the highest point that a disciple of Shaka could reach. However, in Mahayana Buddhism, rakan who aim at their own salvation are ranked below the Boddhisattva (Bosatsu 菩?). It is said that when Shaka entered nirvana (??), rakan were ordered to live in this world and protect the True Law (shouhou *?). Therefore, rakan are depicted in the guise of priests, with buddhist monks' robes (kesa ??) and bald heads (teihatsu ??髪). ... Since the 9th century, numerous paintings and sculptures of rakan were produced in both China and Japan. Typically, they are depicted in a group of 16 or 18 (juuhachi rakan 十??漢), and this may be expanded to 500
Five hundred arhats (rakan ?漢), a Buddhist art subject developed in China featuring large numbers of Indian wise men usually accompanied by servants. There is no agreement among scholars as to the origin of this grouping ... , although several Chinese texts mention rakan as protective saints, who guard the Buddhist law until the coming of Miroku (弥?', Skt: Maitreya), the Buddha of the Future. The Chinese belief that the Five Hundred Luohan inhabited a peak beyond the Stone Bridge (Shakkyou ??) on Mt. Tiantai (Jp: Tendaisan 天台山) is probably an adaptation into popular Buddhism of Taoist legends about the locale as the home of immortals. Tang-period Chinese were also familiar with Indian legends of five hundred arhats believed to live on Mt. Buddhavanagiri near Rajagrha. It is not clear whether the number "500" refers to 500 specific individuals or simply indicates a large number. Beginning in the 5c large groups of rakan were depicted as seated, a pose that was also used for portrayal of independant rakan images.
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