Theatrical Costume for the Role of a Buddhist Cleric

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This colorful costume is a theatrical version of a jiasha, or Buddhist vestment, usually rectangular in shape and worn draped over one shoulder. It maintains many of the conventions of Buddhist clerical dress—namely, the piece is divided into parts: columns and a framework surrounded by a border with additional squares at the corners.

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