Box with cover

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This box has two birds incised on its lid. The long tails and multiple strands of feathers suggest that they are phoenixes, mythological creatures that signal divinity and strength. Because the phoenix does not prey on other animals and is linked to rebirth, it is an important auspicious symbol in Buddhism.

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