Vase in Meiping Shape with Daoist Immortal Zhongli Quan

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Identified by the leaf held in one hand and the gourd suspended from his belt, Zhongli Quan is revered in the religious tradition of Daoism. Thought to have lived sometime between the second century BC. and the second century AD., he is one of a group of eight quasi-historical figures that became prominent in Daoist traditions beginning in the twelfth century, and were later often depicted in the visual arts.

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