Oval cup with chi dragons amid clouds

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Two long, sinuous dragons, of a type known as chihulong, are carved along the edges of the cup. The incised pattern decorating the cup resembles an auspicious fungus known as a lingzhi that is symbolic of the granting of wishes.

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