Demon queller Zhong Kui with demons

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The tale of Zhong Kui quelling demons can be traced to the Tang dynasty (618–907) when Emperor Minghuang (r. 712–756) was purportedly cured of an illness after dreaming about a large ghost eating demons. Here, complicated groups of figures are carefully carved into the natural shape of the bamboo. Zhong Kui is shown seated on the back of a recumbent demon, while other demons present him various offerings.

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