Powerful, divine beings reside in a sacred realm, potentially bringing great fortune or great harm to people in the physical world. They are approached with immense respect for the powers they hold. Almost universally, yet through varied means and belief systems, people have found ways to connect with these powers to bring stability to their lives; to bring love and fertility, prosperity and security, good health and longevity, and to divert ill-will and harm. Focusing on our own collection of Asian folk art, we present examples of these ideas from across the Asian continent, a vast and culturally diverse region. Explore and contemplate differences and commonalities in the use of amulets, prayer, and ritual performance as an expression of this common human desire to achieve balance and harmony in the physical and spiritual realms of life.
Across the Asian world, people reach out to the sacred realm to harness protection, blessings, and good fortune for themselves, their loved ones, and their communities.
Communication with the divine, or prayer, is one way that people connect with the sacred realm to bring overall wellness to their lives.
Amulets are widely used in Asia to connect with the sacred realm and bring overall wellness to people's lives.
Ritual performance is one way that people connect with the sacred realm to bring overall wellness to their lives.