Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This sculpture is one of the earliest known examples of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara holding a willow branch. The willow, which later becomes standard in the imagery of Avalokiteshvara, is associated with healing.

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