The Eighteen Arhats are significant products of sinicization in Buddhism which play an important role in the representation of the Chinese arhat beliefs. Through the rapid development of its appearance since the Tang dynasty, the veneration of the Eighteen Arhats has gained wider influence than that of the traditional Sixteen Arhats. In the course of history, there is no clear consensus on who were the two additional arhats. As such, two different systems developed. The Eighteen Arhats in Fo Guang Shan are the latest development and evolution of the Chinese arhat beliefs. The inclusion of the female arhats etched an important significance of the values upheld in the current era. Also, the addition of the arhats reveals the original intents of the Buddha as advocated by Venerable Master Hsing Yun.
