Tile with Buddha Triad

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Clay relief tiles with figures of the Buddha, known as senbutsu, were made for only a short period of time, between the second half of the seventh and the early eighth century. Here, the Buddha sits beneath a canopy with two (unidentifiable) attendant bodhisattvas in front of the sacred bodhi tree. This example is believed to have been an interior wall decoration at Tachibanadera Temple in Asuka, near the ancient capital of Nara.

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