Often covered with figural sculpture, these dwelling places of the gods draw worshipers to their inner sanctuaries.
Asian Art Museum
Why were cave shrines created? Who were the patrons? What was their use? Discover these remarkable ancient sites.
Chinese Buddhist cave shrines
Jade is a stone that is too hard to carve—to work it, artisans slowly rub away stone with grit.
Working jade
Each year, millions of pilgrims come here to worship Shiva and to bathe in the holy waters of the River Ganges.
Varanasi: sacred city
Siddhartha achieved enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree. Now a major pilgrimage site, it is covered in offerings.
Bodh Gaya: center of the Buddhist world
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Zen Buddhism
Buddhism thrived in India for over a thousand years. Discover important sites in the life of the Buddha.
Beliefs made visible: Buddhist art in South ...
Described as a “museum of religions,” Hinduism encompasses many beliefs and accepts a pantheon of deities.
Beliefs made visible: Hindu art in South ...
Cut, abrade, polish. With these three actions, Chinese artisans have been refining jade for 6000 years.
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