“Devadatta,” Chapter 12 of the Lotus Sutra (Hoke-kyō, Daibadatta-bon)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The frontispiece of this scroll of the “Devadatta” chapter of the Lotus Sutra depicts the eight-year-old daughter of the Dragon King emerging from her palace beneath the sea to offer a precious, radiant jewel to the Buddha on Eagle Peak. Famous for achieving instantaneous Buddhahood, the Dragon Girl became an inspiring symbol of female salvation in Murasaki’s day. Allusions to episodes from the Lotus Sutra appear throughout The Tale of Genji.

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