Cup depicting Three Laughers of Tiger Ravine

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Huddled beneath a cliff, a famous poet (Tao Yuanming, 365–427), a Daoist priest (Lu Xiujing, 406–477), and a Buddhist monk (Huiyuan, 334–416) burst into unrestrained laugher as the monk unintentionally breaks a vow by crossing the bridge separating his monastery from the mundane world. This widely depicted scene serves as a parable for the importance of crossing boundaries in the pursuit of understanding.

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