Ritual staff

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The ritual staff is an important object in Tibetan Buddhist religious rites, where it is wielded as a symbolic destroyer of obstacles to enlightenment. This luxurious version was made at the court of the Ming emperor Yongle, who generously patronized Tibetan Buddhism. The elaborate design, fine workmanship, and sumptuous materials reflect the high standards of court art under Yongle, which remained unsurpassed for the remainder of the Ming dynasty.

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