Hvashang and the Arhats Crossing the Sea

This thangka depicts a central, portly, smiling monk—Hvashang—seated on a wooden vessel navigating stylized, dark blue swirling waves. He wears golden robes with a bare belly, holding a large peach in his right hand and a string of beads in his left, with a small bird perched near his knee. A table behind him is laden with ritual offerings, including vases and a tiered stupa-like structure, while attendants in traditional robes and formal headgear assist him or peer from behind architectural structures. The scene is framed by a vibrant, painterly representation of water and clouds, showcasing intricate detail in the clothing patterns and the fruit-laden table.

This iconography represents the legend of the Chinese monk Hvashang, often associated with Budai or the Maitreya Buddha, traveling to or from India with the Sixteen Arhats. It reflects the fusion of Chinese folk traditions and Tibetan Buddhist practice, common in later thangka painting where the historical Arhats are integrated into narratives involving Chinese-style architecture and figure types.