One of the Twelve Celestial Guardians

One of the Twelve Celestial Guardians

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Twelve Celestial Guardians, or Jūni-ten, are a force of protective deities worshipped in some schools of Buddhism. All are derived from Indian gods. Shown here are Bonten (Brahma), the god at the origin of all things, and Katen, the god of fire. Originally from a suite of twelve, these images would have been used to safeguard a ritual space.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

One of the Twelve Celestial GuardiansOne of the Twelve Celestial GuardiansOne of the Twelve Celestial GuardiansOne of the Twelve Celestial GuardiansOne of the Twelve Celestial Guardians

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.