Cup with Eight Daoist Immortals

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

By the early thirteenth century a historical group of eight figures—seven male, and one female—had become symbolic of the attainment of immortality, one of the primary goals of Daoism. Each figure is a patron of a specific group and is identifiable by the object that he (or she) holds. For example, Lan Caihe, patron of gardeners and florists, carries a basket and Han Xiangzi, patron of musicians, has a flute.

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