Bodhidharma

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Bodhidharma was the legendary sixth-century Indian patriarch who brought Chan, also known as Zen (after the Japanese transliteration), Buddhism to China. It was said that Bodhidharma magically crossed the great Yangzi River on just a reed. This sculpture successfully catches the confidence and calm of the legendary figure.

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