Duke Wen of Jin Recovering His State

Li Tang

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This handscroll tells the story of the exile and return to power of Chonger, duke of the ancient state of Jin. Driven from his home by a succession crisis, Chonger spent nineteen years in exile seeking support from other states before returning in triumph to assume the title Duke of Jin in 636 B.C. Though unsigned, the painting has long been attributed to the court painter Li Tang, who served in both the Northern and Southern Song painting academies. The calligraphy, written in the style of Emperor Gaozong, was probably written by a scribe on his behalf.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art