Sutra Tray

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Long use as a container for sutras is indicated by the shadowy imprint of ten scrolls visible on the bright red lacquer interior of this finely made rectangular box. That it was one of a number of trays for a large set of scrolls is suggested by the number thirty-six written in red on black lacquer on one side of the exterior. Its high-quality construction—with very thin wood strengthened by a fabric layer (visible on the damaged edge) under a heavy lacquer coating of red over black—suggests a twelfth-century date, when carefully made storage boxes were used for the lavish sets of sutras dedicated to shrines and temples.

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