Manjushri, Bodhisattva of Wisdom, with five knots of hair (Wuji wenshu)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The five knots of hair represent the five syllables of a Sanskrit invocation, a-ra-paca- na, used in devotions to the bodhisattva of wisdom. Each syllable has a different meaning and can help a devotee gain such benefits as protection from illness.

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