Description:

The Mad Monk, China, Jade, Qing Period
Beautiful old archaic jade sculpture of the famous "mad monk", probably Qing, about 6 inches. The mad monk is sometimes considered to be a reincarnation of one of the Chinese Lohan (Arhat or Saint). He was considered auspicious and powerful, but always did the "opposite" of the traditional Lohan, hence his title "the mad monk". He ate meat, instead of being a strict vegetarian, and wandered about in a typically Chan or Zen way.