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A limestone sculpture of the Cosmic Buddha Vairochana draped in robes portraying the Realms of Existence. Northern Qi dynasty, 550–577 CE, from China, now housed at the National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, D.C.

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A limestone sculpture of the Cosmic Buddha Vairochana draped in robes portraying the Realms of Existence. Northern Qi dynasty, 550–577 CE, from China, now housed at the National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, D.C.

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Winged demon, thought to be from a column. China, Northern Qi dynasty . Limestone. Nelson Atkins Museum of Art collection

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Winged demon, thought to be from a column. China, Northern Qi dynasty . Limestone. Nelson Atkins Museum of Art collection

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A 12th century CE stone sculpture of naga-enthroned Buddha, now housed at the Bangkok National Museum in Thailand

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A 12th century CE stone sculpture of naga-enthroned Buddha, now housed at the Bangkok National Museum in Thailand

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A conical bowl with interior of fish swimming amid waves. Yaozhou ware, Northern Song Dynasty , now housed at the National Museum of China

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A conical bowl with interior of fish swimming amid waves. Yaozhou ware, Northern Song Dynasty , now housed at the National Museum of China

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A large bronze drum from Guangxi province in China, now housed at the Freer Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Tang dynasty or earlier

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A large bronze drum from Guangxi province in China, now housed at the Freer Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Tang dynasty or earlier

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A jade bear-shaped weight, unearthed from one of the Tombs of the Chu Kings at Jiangsu Province. Western Han Dynasty , now housed at the Xuzhou Museum in China

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A jade bear-shaped weight, unearthed from one of the Tombs of the Chu Kings at Jiangsu Province. Western Han Dynasty , now housed at the Xuzhou Museum in China

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A gold ewer decorated with a dragon and lion playing with a ball, Ming dynasty, 1601 CE, now housed at the Qujiang Museum of Fine Arts in Xian, China

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A gold ewer decorated with a dragon and lion playing with a ball, Ming dynasty, 1601 CE, now housed at the Qujiang Museum of Fine Arts in Xian, China

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A colossal limestone sculpture of the ancient Egyptian god Bes. From Cyprus, 7th-6th century BCE, now housed at the Istanbul Archaeological Museum in Turkey

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A colossal limestone sculpture of the ancient Egyptian god Bes. From Cyprus, 7th-6th century BCE, now housed at the Istanbul Archaeological Museum in Turkey

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A rabbit sculpture made of talc, unearthed in 1956 from the tomb M45 in Hansenzhai, east of Xi'an, China. Tang Dynasty , now housed at the Shaanxi History Museum

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A rabbit sculpture made of talc, unearthed in 1956 from the tomb M45 in Hansenzhai, east of Xi'an, China. Tang Dynasty , now housed at the Shaanxi History Museum

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A pagoda scroll comprised of characters from the Lotus Sutra, written by Li Zhen in 1617 CE. Ming dynasty, from China, now housed at the National Palace Museum in Taiwan.

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A pagoda scroll comprised of characters from the Lotus Sutra, written by Li Zhen in 1617 CE. Ming dynasty, from China, now housed at the National Palace Museum in Taiwan.

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A 2nd century BCE bamboo chest from the Western Han Dynasty, unearthed from one of the Mawangdui Tombs. Now housed at the Hunan Provincial Museum in China

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A 2nd century BCE bamboo chest from the Western Han Dynasty, unearthed from one of the Mawangdui Tombs. Now housed at the Hunan Provincial Museum in China

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Stoneware figurines transcribing and proofreading, Xianying ware, Western Jin dynasty . Unearthed from Jinpenling in China, and now housed at the Hunan Museum

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Stoneware figurines transcribing and proofreading, Xianying ware, Western Jin dynasty . Unearthed from Jinpenling in China, and now housed at the Hunan Museum

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The Lute and White Snake of Benten ; painted by the Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai in 1847 CE. Now housed at the National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, D.C.

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The Lute and White Snake of Benten ; painted by the Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai in 1847 CE. Now housed at the National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, D.C.

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A 'Robin's egg' glazed vase made during the reign of the emperor Qianlong . From China, now housed at the Asian Civilisations Museum in Singapore

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A 'Robin's egg' glazed vase made during the reign of the emperor Qianlong . From China, now housed at the Asian Civilisations Museum in Singapore

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A bronze sculpture of the walking Buddha with his right hand in the gesture of reassurance . 14th century CE, Sukhothai period, now housed at the Bangkok National Museum

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A bronze sculpture of the walking Buddha with his right hand in the gesture of reassurance . 14th century CE, Sukhothai period, now housed at the Bangkok National Museum

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A celadon porcelain vase that imitates the shape of ancient Chinese jade congs. The vase was fired in the Southern Song Dynasty Hangzhou official kiln in the 12th century CE. Now housed at the National Palace Museum in Taiwan

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A celadon porcelain vase that imitates the shape of ancient Chinese jade congs. The vase was fired in the Southern Song Dynasty Hangzhou official kiln in the 12th century CE. Now housed at the National Palace Museum in Taiwan

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A copper-based painted enamel square plate from the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty. Now housed at the National Palace Museum in Taiwan

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A copper-based painted enamel square plate from the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty. Now housed at the National Palace Museum in Taiwan

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A large wooden puppet unearthed from a Western Han Dynasty wooden coffin in Daishu, China. 206 BCE-9 CE, now housed at the Qingdao Museum

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A large wooden puppet unearthed from a Western Han Dynasty wooden coffin in Daishu, China. 206 BCE-9 CE, now housed at the Qingdao Museum

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The golden seal of the Empress Ashina, made in 579–580 CE with inscription "Empress Dowager Tianyuan" in large seal script. Ashina was a Göktürk princess who became an empress of the Northern Zhou dynasty by marrying the Emperor Wu. Now housed in the Xianyang Museum, China

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The golden seal of the Empress Ashina, made in 579–580 CE with inscription "Empress Dowager Tianyuan" in large seal script. Ashina was a Göktürk princess who became an empress of the Northern Zhou dynasty by marrying the Emperor Wu. Now housed in the Xianyang Museum, China

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A C-shaped jade dragon made during the Hongshan Culture. 6000-5000 years old, now housed at the National Museum of China

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A C-shaped jade dragon made during the Hongshan Culture. 6000-5000 years old, now housed at the National Museum of China

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