Buddha Shakyamuni with disciples

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Commissioned by the Qing imperial court, this stunning embroidery hanging features Tibetan-style Buddhist images. The large central Buddha sits on a lotus throne carried by lions, with his right hand in earth-touching mudra and his left in meditation mudra. The two small figures in front are the Buddha’s primary disciples: the youthful Ananda and the older Kashyapa. At the top, Tsongkhapa (1357–1419), the founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, is joined by two disciples. The uncommonly delicate embroidery successfully displays the solemnity of the Buddha and the piety of his disciples.

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