Crowned Buddha

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Buddha touches the earth at the moment of enlightenment. His crown, necklace, eyes, and urna (forehead dot) are inlaid with silver; the flaming mandorla and the stepped throne were inlaid with lapis lazuli and rock crystal (surviving vestiges of these materials can be seen on the base).

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