18 paintings of the Arhats at Lien Hoa cave, Phong Phu Pagoda (belonging to Tay Hoa Lu ward, Ninh Binh province) in the artistic style of the Ly and Tran dynasties are carved on cliffs.
Each painting has its appearance, posture, gestures, and facial expressions, in different space and landscape contexts. The person sitting with a knee on the stone slab, the person holding a stick or raising a cross, the hand dropping or sealing...
In each painting, adjacent to the top frame, the position on the left or right has a framed part recording different Chinese characters. The length of the frame depends on the number of Chinese characters.
Currently, many Han characters in the paintings have been eroded, blurred or completely lost, very difficult or impossible to restore and read. Currently, only 3 La Han carvings (carvings No. 6, 7 and 8) are still relatively clear, can be restored, and the blurred and outlined characters can be read.
Ms. Vu Thanh Lich - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Ninh Binh province - said that according to the list of 18 Arhats in Pháp trụ ký, although the full names of each Arhat in the above 18 paintings have not been specifically identified. However, it can be affirmed that the 18 ma nhai carvings above all depict Arhats with titles, relatives, and residences recorded in the list of 16 arhats of Pháp trụ ký.
This is further affirmed when continuing to restore Han characters on the ma nhai, comparing with the list of La Han venerable scholars in Phap tru ky, researching shaping, combining documents describing the actions, practices, and powers... of the La Han people" - Ms. Lich said.
Also according to Ms. Lich, through direct research of 18 paintings carved with La Han figures at Lien Hoa cave, based on artistic characteristics, decorative details, patterns, and comparison with records in preserved documents. The age of creation of the set of 18 paintings carved with ma nhai 18 La Han figures is determined to be the Tran Dynasty, even earlier, possibly at the end of the Ly Dynasty.
The set of paintings of 18 Arhats and the mascot of Kien Gia Binh Ngo stele in Lien Hoa cave is among the 26 inscriptions on stone currently preserved at Phong Phu Pagoda relic, Phong Phu residential group, Tay Hoa Lu ward, Ninh Binh province. In particular, 18 paintings of Arhats are the only mascots carved on the cave walls currently available in Vietnam.
The set of paintings carving the mascot of 18 Arhats and the mascot of Kien Gia Binh Ngo stele in Lien Hoa cave is among the 26 inscriptions on stone currently preserved at Phong Phu Pagoda relic (Phong Phu residential group, Tay Hoa Lu ward, Ninh Binh province). In particular, 18 paintings carving 18 Arhats are the only mascot paintings carved on the cave walls currently available in Vietnam.
On February 3, 2026, Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh signed Decision No. 236/QD-TTg on recognizing National Treasures (Round 14), including 30 artifacts, groups of artifacts, including a set of carvings of 18 La Han spirits at Lien Hoa cave, Phong Phu pagoda.
