"Inkstone" and cover in the shape of a turtle

"Inkstone" and cover in the shape of a turtle

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Turtles and tortoises, symbols of longevity and endurance, have long been associated with divination in ancient China. Here, the shell is engraved with the eight trigrams (bagua) used in Daoist cosmology, which became increasingly important during the Sui and Tang dynasties.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

"Inkstone" and cover in the shape of a turtle"Inkstone" and cover in the shape of a turtle"Inkstone" and cover in the shape of a turtle"Inkstone" and cover in the shape of a turtle"Inkstone" and cover in the shape of a turtle

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.