Seated Buddha

Seated Buddha

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Buddha is shown preaching with one finger of his right hand extended to call the earth to witness. A removable panel in the back reveals a cavity that contained a group of silks representing the five vital organs, together with seeds, symbolic objects, and prayers. One of these prayers includes a date corresponding to May 9, 1411, when the sculpture was dedicated.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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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.