Dish with a dragon amid clouds

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Images of front-facing dragons first appeared in the mid-sixteenth century. Commonly depicted in the decorative arts of the late Ming period, they are represented on ceremonial garments, porcelain, and carved objects.

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