Raising the Alms-Bowl

unidentified artist

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This painting tells the story of how the Buddha converted the child-eating demon Guizimu (Hariti, in Sanskrit) to the Buddhist faith. To show her the pain that her abductions and carnage were causing, the Buddha imprisoned one of Guizimu’s children under a magical bowl; the chaotic scene shows Guizimu’s demon armies futilely trying to lift the bowl and free the child. The Buddha watches, hovering in mid-air, backed by flames and accompanied by luohans and other followers. This painting was made with the intent to deceive: the many early collection seals are fake and were added to make the painting look older (and more valuable) than it was.

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