Bodhisattva

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Elaborate tasseled headdresses are found at sites in the Gandharan region, in the Kucha kingdom, at related sites such as Tumshuq, and in northwest China. They are generally worn by bodhisattvas, beings that have attained enlightenment but choose to remain accessible to devotees.

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