Bodhisattva Guanyin

Bodhisattva Guanyin

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This lavish Guanyin was crafted out of a massive piece of spinach-hued jadeite with gray and tawny inclusions. Jadeite, originally from Burma, became extremely popular and even more valuable than nephrite jade in the nineteenth century. A sculpture of this scale, affordable only for the wealthiest families, was meant to communicate supreme respect for Guanyin.

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.