Box with chi dragons amid clouds

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Known as chi, the feline dragons that curve along the surface of this box were inspired by comparable creatures found on Bronze Age vessels, which were rediscovered during the Song dynasty and often reinterpreted in the arts of that period. Although they lack the large horns, prominent snouts, and scaled body of the typical Chinese depiction of the dragon, chi dragons are also regarded as auspicious and protective.

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