A white jade 'luohan and boy' group, 17th century | 十七世紀 白玉戲獅羅漢及童子

The present lot possibly depicts Vijraputra, Xiaoshi ('the luohan who plays with a lion'). Vijraputra was a lion hunter before converting to Buddhism. After attaining enlightenment, a little lion came playfully to his side. The animal was grateful to him for giving up the life of killing lions, sparing its parents and brothers. Since then, Vijraputra and the lion have become inseparable. The lion, with its roar, symbolises the invincibility of Buddhism. Compare a related jade luohan figure but holding an alms bowl, Qing dynasty, 18th/19th century, from the Tuyet Nguyet Collection, included in the exhibition Virtuous Treasures: Chinese Jades for the Scholar's Table, University Museum and Art Gallery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 2008, cat. no. 118, subsequently sold in these rooms, 31st May 2018, lot 579.

笑獅羅漢，其法名羅弗多尊者，原為獵人，將證得阿羅漢果時，有兩隻幼獅近身感激他放下屠刀。成佛後，二獅常隨，故人稱「笑獅羅漢」。獅子在佛教中亦有護法之責，獅吼威風震懾魔怨，亦可弘揚佛法。參考一件清十八或十九世紀玉雕羅漢，但手持砵，雪月藏品，曾展於《閣有天珍-中國文房玉雕》，香港大學美術博物館，香港，2008年，編號118，後售於香港蘇富比2018年5月31日，編號579。