Images of Luohan or Arhat probably originated in Kashmir, and were first mentioned in the Mahayanavataraka which was translated into Chinese in AD 437; their names were later identified by the early Tang pilgrim monk Xuanzang in AD 654. According to early text, these divine beings remained on the earthly world to defend the Buddhist doctrine and to await the redeeming Buddha, Maitreya. For a discussion on images of the Luohan, see W. Ho and W. C. Fong, 'Some Buddhist Images', Possessing the Past: Treasures from the National Palace Museum, Taipei, Metropolitan Museum, 1996, pp. 210-217.

A similar jade book of twelve tablets, four of the covers are of bronze decorated with repoussé dragon, dated to the late 18th century, illustrated by William Watson, in Chinese Jade Books in the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, 1963, pls. 6, 7, and 8. Although the pictorial representation and text are different, the names appears to be in the same order as the present book. The sixteen personalities are listed as: Ingita, Ajita, Vanavasi, Kalika, Vajriputra, Bhadra, Kanakavatsa, Kanaka Bharadvaja, Bakkula, Rahula, Chuda Panthaka, Pindola Bharadvaja, Panthaka, Nagasena, Gopaka, and Abheda, ibid., pp. 32-34.