Stupa

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Commemorative stupas (Tibetan: chorten) are the oldest symbols of Buddhism and came to be emblematic of both the dharma and of the Buddha himself. Repositories for relics associated with the Buddha, his disciples, and their lineages, they assumed a central place in later Buddhist imagery. Portable versions often contain relics of eminent monks or holy texts.

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