Food container (yu)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This large water container was used for ablution during the sacrificial rituals of ancient China. Whereas most contemporary water containers have loop handles, this rare example features four holes in its foot and four lugs on its neck through which ropes can be attached for carrying. The incised decoration on its surface consists of four masks of an imaginary animal—known as taotie—meant to inspire deference and awe among participants of the rituals.

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