In 1965, its first year of existence, the Israel Museum mounted an exhibition of art from the Far East. Other exhibitions followed, but the East Asian Art pavilion was inaugurated only in 1985. Exhibitions of Asian art at the Museum attract a large audience, whether they are small features, like thespecialist displays on the Japanese sword, or major events such as "3,500 Years of Chinese Art from the Collection of the Arthur Sackler Foundation" (1987) and the Jacob Pins Collection of Japanese Art (1994).

Page from a Ragamala series Todi Ragini Rajasthan, Bundi, 17th century Gouache on paper, decorated with gold leaf Height: 21 cm (8.25 in)