Finial in the shape of a dragon head

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The dragon in China is an auspicious emblem of nature’s creative forces and is often visualized in art as a composite creature. This sleek example, with its elongated neck, flared nostrils, and gaping mouth, may have been inspired by the heavenly horses thought to dwell in Central Asia.

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