The eighteen disciples of the Buddha

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The eighteen apostles of the Buddha hailed from China and resided at the Shaolin Temple. These eighteen arhats are rooted in a Buddhist legend, symbolizing eternal presence in the world as they uphold the teachings of the dharma with unwavering dedication. They consist of sixteen historical figures, each of whom was a devoted disciple of the Buddha. The popularity of the sixteen arhats grew primarily during the Tang Dynasty, while their eighteen counterparts gained recognition from the Song Dynasty onwards. It is possible that the emergence of these eighteen arhats is connected to China's affinity for the number 18, which holds significant cultural and traditional importance.