Three-Sided Section of a Portable Shrine with Scenes from the Life of the Buddha

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This wedge-shaped quarter section is part of a shrine that would have been circular when closed. The upper four interior registers show events from Shakyamuni's childhood and his great departure; the lowest two registers juxtapose an emaciated Buddha (representing his enlightenment) with his first sermon.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art