Sacrificial Container

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The stacked sections of the base of this container contained rice and other offerings for a deity. Conceptually organized around the axis of the universe, the various levels reference different planes of existence, moving, ultimately, to the realm of celestial beings at top.

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