This room (1914-1971) was the culmination of Isabella Gardner's long dialogue with Asia. In 1883–84 she and her husband traveled around the world, visiting major sites in Japan, China, Cambodia, Indonesia, and India. Beginning in 1904 her friendship with the Japanese art critic Okakura Kakuzo (1862–1913) deepened her interest in the art and culture of East Asia. Reached by descending a flight of stairs at the end of the Chinese Loggia, this room contained six Chinese Buddhist sculptures, several Japanese screens, and a variety of other decorative objects; this is also where Gardner kept the set of utensils used in the Japanese tea ceremony that had been given to her by Okakura. Although Gardner never converted to Buddhism, she was certainly greatly interested in Asian spirituality.