diff --git a/registry/repository.go b/registry/repository.go
index b75b7b8e..394a9aa8 100644
--- a/registry/repository.go
+++ b/registry/repository.go
@@ -17,10 +17,15 @@ package registry
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
 	"io"
 
 	ocispec "github.com/opencontainers/image-spec/specs-go/v1"
 	"oras.land/oras-go/v2/content"
+	"oras.land/oras-go/v2/errdef"
+	"oras.land/oras-go/v2/internal/descriptor"
+	"oras.land/oras-go/v2/internal/spec"
 )
 
 // Repository is an ORAS target and an union of the blob and the manifest CASs.
@@ -134,3 +139,88 @@ func Tags(ctx context.Context, repo TagLister) ([]string, error) {
 	}
 	return res, nil
 }
+
+// Referrers lists the descriptors of image or artifact manifests directly
+// referencing the given manifest descriptor.
+//
+// Reference: https://github.com/opencontainers/distribution-spec/blob/v1.1.0-rc3/spec.md#listing-referrers
+func Referrers(ctx context.Context, store content.ReadOnlyGraphStorage, desc ocispec.Descriptor, artifactType string) ([]ocispec.Descriptor, error) {
+	if !descriptor.IsManifest(desc) {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("the descriptor %v is not a manifest: %w", desc, errdef.ErrUnsupported)
+	}
+
+	var results []ocispec.Descriptor
+
+	// use the Referrer API if it is available
+	if rf, ok := store.(ReferrerLister); ok {
+		if err := rf.Referrers(ctx, desc, artifactType, func(referrers []ocispec.Descriptor) error {
+			results = append(results, referrers...)
+			return nil
+		}); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		return results, nil
+	}
+
+	predecessors, err := store.Predecessors(ctx, desc)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	for _, node := range predecessors {
+		switch node.MediaType {
+		case ocispec.MediaTypeImageManifest:
+			fetched, err := content.FetchAll(ctx, store, node)
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+			var manifest ocispec.Manifest
+			if err := json.Unmarshal(fetched, &manifest); err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+			if manifest.Subject == nil || !content.Equal(*manifest.Subject, desc) {
+				continue
+			}
+			node.ArtifactType = manifest.ArtifactType
+			if node.ArtifactType == "" {
+				node.ArtifactType = manifest.Config.MediaType
+			}
+			node.Annotations = manifest.Annotations
+		case ocispec.MediaTypeImageIndex:
+			fetched, err := content.FetchAll(ctx, store, node)
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+			var index ocispec.Index
+			if err := json.Unmarshal(fetched, &index); err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+			if index.Subject == nil || !content.Equal(*index.Subject, desc) {
+				continue
+			}
+			node.ArtifactType = index.ArtifactType
+			node.Annotations = index.Annotations
+		case spec.MediaTypeArtifactManifest:
+			fetched, err := content.FetchAll(ctx, store, node)
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+			var artifact spec.Artifact
+			if err := json.Unmarshal(fetched, &artifact); err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+			if artifact.Subject == nil || !content.Equal(*artifact.Subject, desc) {
+				continue
+			}
+			node.ArtifactType = artifact.ArtifactType
+			node.Annotations = artifact.Annotations
+		default:
+			continue
+		}
+		if artifactType == "" || artifactType == node.ArtifactType {
+			// the field artifactType in referrers descriptor is allowed to be empty
+			// https://github.com/opencontainers/distribution-spec/issues/458
+			results = append(results, node)
+		}
+	}
+	return results, nil
+}
diff --git a/registry/repository_test.go b/registry/repository_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b41340ef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/registry/repository_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,405 @@
+/*
+Copyright The ORAS Authors.
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+package registry
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"reflect"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/opencontainers/go-digest"
+	ocispec "github.com/opencontainers/image-spec/specs-go/v1"
+	"golang.org/x/sync/errgroup"
+	"oras.land/oras-go/v2/content/memory"
+	"oras.land/oras-go/v2/errdef"
+	"oras.land/oras-go/v2/internal/container/set"
+	"oras.land/oras-go/v2/internal/docker"
+	"oras.land/oras-go/v2/internal/spec"
+)
+
+var ErrBadFetch = errors.New("bad fetch error")
+
+// testStorage implements content.ReadOnlyGraphStorage
+type testStorage struct {
+	store    *memory.Store
+	badFetch set.Set[digest.Digest]
+}
+
+func (s *testStorage) Push(ctx context.Context, expected ocispec.Descriptor, reader io.Reader) error {
+	return s.store.Push(ctx, expected, reader)
+}
+
+func (s *testStorage) Fetch(ctx context.Context, target ocispec.Descriptor) (io.ReadCloser, error) {
+	if s.badFetch.Contains(target.Digest) {
+		return nil, ErrBadFetch
+	}
+	return s.store.Fetch(ctx, target)
+}
+
+func (s *testStorage) Exists(ctx context.Context, target ocispec.Descriptor) (bool, error) {
+	return s.store.Exists(ctx, target)
+}
+
+func (s *testStorage) Predecessors(ctx context.Context, node ocispec.Descriptor) ([]ocispec.Descriptor, error) {
+	return s.store.Predecessors(ctx, node)
+}
+
+// TestReferrerLister implements content.ReadOnlyGraphStorage and registry.ReferrerLister
+type TestReferrerLister struct {
+	*testStorage
+}
+
+func (rl *TestReferrerLister) Referrers(ctx context.Context, desc ocispec.Descriptor, artifactType string, fn func(referrers []ocispec.Descriptor) error) error {
+	results := []ocispec.Descriptor{desc}
+	return fn(results)
+}
+
+func TestReferrers(t *testing.T) {
+	s := testStorage{
+		store:    memory.New(),
+		badFetch: set.New[digest.Digest](),
+	}
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	// generate test content
+	var blobs [][]byte
+	var descs []ocispec.Descriptor
+	appendBlob := func(mediaType string, artifactType string, blob []byte) {
+		blobs = append(blobs, blob)
+		descs = append(descs, ocispec.Descriptor{
+			MediaType:    mediaType,
+			ArtifactType: artifactType,
+			Annotations:  map[string]string{"test": "content"},
+			Digest:       digest.FromBytes(blob),
+			Size:         int64(len(blob)),
+		})
+	}
+	generateImageManifest := func(config ocispec.Descriptor, subject *ocispec.Descriptor, layers ...ocispec.Descriptor) {
+		manifest := ocispec.Manifest{
+			MediaType:   ocispec.MediaTypeImageManifest,
+			Config:      config,
+			Subject:     subject,
+			Layers:      layers,
+			Annotations: map[string]string{"test": "content"},
+		}
+		manifestJSON, err := json.Marshal(manifest)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		appendBlob(ocispec.MediaTypeImageManifest, manifest.Config.MediaType, manifestJSON)
+	}
+	generateArtifactManifest := func(subject *ocispec.Descriptor, blobs ...ocispec.Descriptor) {
+		artifact := spec.Artifact{
+			MediaType:    spec.MediaTypeArtifactManifest,
+			ArtifactType: "artifact",
+			Subject:      subject,
+			Blobs:        blobs,
+			Annotations:  map[string]string{"test": "content"},
+		}
+		manifestJSON, err := json.Marshal(artifact)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		appendBlob(spec.MediaTypeArtifactManifest, artifact.ArtifactType, manifestJSON)
+	}
+	generateIndex := func(subject *ocispec.Descriptor, manifests ...ocispec.Descriptor) {
+		index := ocispec.Index{
+			MediaType:    ocispec.MediaTypeImageIndex,
+			ArtifactType: "index",
+			Subject:      subject,
+			Manifests:    manifests,
+			Annotations:  map[string]string{"test": "content"},
+		}
+		indexJSON, err := json.Marshal(index)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		appendBlob(ocispec.MediaTypeImageIndex, index.ArtifactType, indexJSON)
+	}
+	generateManifestList := func(manifests ...ocispec.Descriptor) {
+		index := ocispec.Index{
+			ArtifactType: "manifest list",
+			Manifests:    manifests,
+		}
+		indexJSON, err := json.Marshal(index)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		appendBlob(docker.MediaTypeManifestList, index.ArtifactType, indexJSON)
+	}
+
+	appendBlob("image manifest", "image config", []byte("config"))    // Blob 0
+	appendBlob(ocispec.MediaTypeImageLayer, "layer", []byte("foo"))   // Blob 1
+	appendBlob(ocispec.MediaTypeImageLayer, "layer", []byte("bar"))   // Blob 2
+	appendBlob(ocispec.MediaTypeImageLayer, "layer", []byte("hello")) // Blob 3
+	generateImageManifest(descs[0], nil, descs[1])                    // Blob 4
+	generateArtifactManifest(&descs[4], descs[2])                     // Blob 5
+	generateImageManifest(descs[0], &descs[5], descs[3])              // Blob 6
+	generateIndex(&descs[6], descs[4:6]...)                           // Blob 7
+	generateIndex(&descs[4], descs[5:8]...)                           // Blob 8
+	generateManifestList(descs[4:7]...)                               // blob 9
+	generateImageManifest(descs[0], nil, descs[4])                    // Blob 10
+	generateArtifactManifest(nil, descs[5])                           // Blob 11
+
+	eg, egCtx := errgroup.WithContext(ctx)
+	for i := range blobs {
+		eg.Go(func(i int) func() error {
+			return func() error {
+				err := s.Push(egCtx, descs[i], bytes.NewReader(blobs[i]))
+				if err != nil {
+					return fmt.Errorf("failed to push test content to src: %d: %v", i, err)
+				}
+				return nil
+			}
+		}(i))
+	}
+	if err := eg.Wait(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	// verify predecessors
+	wantedPredecessors := [][]ocispec.Descriptor{
+		{descs[4], descs[6], descs[10]}, // Blob 0
+		{descs[4]},                      // Blob 1
+		{descs[5]},                      // Blob 2
+		{descs[6]},                      // Blob 3
+		{descs[5], descs[7], descs[8], descs[9], descs[10]}, // Blob 4
+		{descs[6], descs[7], descs[8], descs[9], descs[11]}, // Blob 5
+		{descs[7], descs[8], descs[9]},                      // Blob 6
+		{descs[8]},                                          // Blob 7
+		nil,                                                 // Blob 8
+		nil,                                                 // Blob 9
+		nil,                                                 // Blob 10
+		nil,                                                 // Blob 11
+	}
+	for i, want := range wantedPredecessors {
+		predecessors, err := s.Predecessors(ctx, descs[i])
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("Store.Predecessors(%d) error = %v", i, err)
+		}
+		if !equalDescriptorSet(predecessors, want) {
+			t.Errorf("Store.Predecessors(%d) = %v, want %v", i, predecessors, want)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// verify referrers
+	wantedReferrers := [][]ocispec.Descriptor{
+		nil,                  // Blob 0
+		nil,                  // Blob 1
+		nil,                  // Blob 2
+		nil,                  // Blob 3
+		{descs[5], descs[8]}, // Blob 4
+		{descs[6]},           // Blob 5
+		{descs[7]},           // Blob 6
+		nil,                  // Blob 7
+		nil,                  // Blob 8
+		nil,                  // Blob 9
+		nil,                  // Blob 10
+		nil,                  // Blob 11
+	}
+	for i := 0; i <= 3; i++ {
+		_, err := Referrers(ctx, &s, descs[i], "")
+		if !errors.Is(err, errdef.ErrUnsupported) {
+			t.Errorf("Store.Referrers(%d) error = %v, want %v", i, err, errdef.ErrUnsupported)
+		}
+	}
+	for i := 4; i < len(wantedReferrers); i++ {
+		want := wantedReferrers[i]
+		results, err := Referrers(ctx, &s, descs[i], "")
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("Store.Referrers(%d) error = %v", i, err)
+		}
+		if !equalDescriptorSet(results, want) {
+			t.Errorf("Store.Predecessors(%d) = %v, want %v", i, results, want)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// test filtering on ArtifactType
+	wantedReferrers = [][]ocispec.Descriptor{
+		nil,        // Blob 0
+		nil,        // Blob 1
+		nil,        // Blob 2
+		nil,        // Blob 3
+		nil,        // Blob 4
+		{descs[6]}, // Blob 5
+		nil,        // Blob 6
+		nil,        // Blob 7
+		nil,        // Blob 8
+		nil,        // Blob 9
+		nil,        // Blob 10
+		nil,        // Blob 11
+	}
+	for i := 4; i < len(wantedReferrers); i++ {
+		want := wantedReferrers[i]
+		results, err := Referrers(ctx, &s, descs[i], "image manifest")
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("Store.Referrers(%d) error = %v", i, err)
+		}
+		if !equalDescriptorSet(results, want) {
+			t.Errorf("Store.Predecessors(%d) = %v, want %v", i, results, want)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// test ReferrerLister
+	rl := TestReferrerLister{testStorage: &s}
+	wantedReferrers = [][]ocispec.Descriptor{
+		nil,         // Blob 0
+		nil,         // Blob 1
+		nil,         // Blob 2
+		nil,         // Blob 3
+		{descs[4]},  // Blob 4
+		{descs[5]},  // Blob 5
+		{descs[6]},  // Blob 6
+		{descs[7]},  // Blob 7
+		{descs[8]},  // Blob 8
+		{descs[9]},  // Blob 9
+		{descs[10]}, // Blob 10
+		{descs[11]}, // Blob 11
+	}
+	for i := 4; i < len(wantedReferrers); i++ {
+		want := wantedReferrers[i]
+		results, err := Referrers(ctx, &rl, descs[i], "")
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("Store.Referrers(%d) error = %v", i, err)
+		}
+		if !equalDescriptorSet(results, want) {
+			t.Errorf("Store.Predecessors(%d) = %v, want %v", i, results, want)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestReferrers_BadFetch(t *testing.T) {
+	s := testStorage{
+		store:    memory.New(),
+		badFetch: set.New[digest.Digest](),
+	}
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	// generate test content
+	var blobs [][]byte
+	var descs []ocispec.Descriptor
+	appendBlob := func(mediaType string, artifactType string, blob []byte) {
+		blobs = append(blobs, blob)
+		descs = append(descs, ocispec.Descriptor{
+			MediaType:    mediaType,
+			ArtifactType: artifactType,
+			Annotations:  map[string]string{"test": "content"},
+			Digest:       digest.FromBytes(blob),
+			Size:         int64(len(blob)),
+		})
+	}
+	generateImageManifest := func(config ocispec.Descriptor, subject *ocispec.Descriptor, layers ...ocispec.Descriptor) {
+		manifest := ocispec.Manifest{
+			MediaType:   ocispec.MediaTypeImageManifest,
+			Config:      config,
+			Subject:     subject,
+			Layers:      layers,
+			Annotations: map[string]string{"test": "content"},
+		}
+		manifestJSON, err := json.Marshal(manifest)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		appendBlob(ocispec.MediaTypeImageManifest, manifest.Config.MediaType, manifestJSON)
+	}
+	generateArtifactManifest := func(subject *ocispec.Descriptor, blobs ...ocispec.Descriptor) {
+		artifact := spec.Artifact{
+			MediaType:    spec.MediaTypeArtifactManifest,
+			ArtifactType: "artifact",
+			Subject:      subject,
+			Blobs:        blobs,
+			Annotations:  map[string]string{"test": "content"},
+		}
+		manifestJSON, err := json.Marshal(artifact)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		appendBlob(spec.MediaTypeArtifactManifest, artifact.ArtifactType, manifestJSON)
+	}
+	generateIndex := func(subject *ocispec.Descriptor, manifests ...ocispec.Descriptor) {
+		index := ocispec.Index{
+			MediaType:    ocispec.MediaTypeImageIndex,
+			ArtifactType: "index",
+			Subject:      subject,
+			Manifests:    manifests,
+			Annotations:  map[string]string{"test": "content"},
+		}
+		indexJSON, err := json.Marshal(index)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		appendBlob(ocispec.MediaTypeImageIndex, index.ArtifactType, indexJSON)
+	}
+	appendBlob("image manifest", "image config", []byte("config"))    // Blob 0
+	appendBlob(ocispec.MediaTypeImageLayer, "layer", []byte("foo"))   // Blob 1
+	appendBlob(ocispec.MediaTypeImageLayer, "layer", []byte("bar"))   // Blob 2
+	appendBlob(ocispec.MediaTypeImageLayer, "layer", []byte("hello")) // Blob 3
+	generateImageManifest(descs[0], nil, descs[1])                    // Blob 4
+	generateImageManifest(descs[0], &descs[4], descs[2])              // Blob 5
+	generateArtifactManifest(&descs[5], descs[3])                     // Blob 6
+	generateIndex(&descs[6])                                          // Blob 7
+	s.badFetch.Add(descs[5].Digest)
+	s.badFetch.Add(descs[6].Digest)
+	s.badFetch.Add(descs[7].Digest)
+
+	eg, egCtx := errgroup.WithContext(ctx)
+	for i := range blobs {
+		eg.Go(func(i int) func() error {
+			return func() error {
+				err := s.Push(egCtx, descs[i], bytes.NewReader(blobs[i]))
+				if err != nil {
+					return fmt.Errorf("failed to push test content to src: %d: %v", i, err)
+				}
+				return nil
+			}
+		}(i))
+	}
+	if err := eg.Wait(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	for i := 4; i < 7; i++ {
+		_, err := Referrers(ctx, &s, descs[i], "")
+		if !errors.Is(err, ErrBadFetch) {
+			t.Errorf("Store.Referrers(%d) error = %v, want %v", i, err, ErrBadFetch)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func equalDescriptorSet(actual []ocispec.Descriptor, expected []ocispec.Descriptor) bool {
+	if len(actual) != len(expected) {
+		return false
+	}
+	contains := func(node ocispec.Descriptor) bool {
+		for _, candidate := range actual {
+			if reflect.DeepEqual(candidate, node) {
+				return true
+			}
+		}
+		return false
+	}
+	for _, node := range expected {
+		if !contains(node) {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	return true
+}