Bodhisattva Guanyin

Bodhisattva Guanyin

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Guanyin (in Sanskrit, Avalokiteshvara), the bodhisattva of infinite compassion, is one of the most commonly depicted Buddhist figures in Chinese art. She was believed to have the ability to bless every suffering person in the mortal world. Although in India the bodhisattva was originally understood to be either genderless or male, in China, female manifestations such as this one were common.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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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.