Ritual Wash Basin (Ashitsuki-darai)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This wash basin has a round body and three curving legs. Buddhist monks used this type of vessel during a monthly service of atonement and purification (fusatsu) to make amends for their sins and renew their vows. The sturdy construction and the durable surface indicates its frequent use. The basin is an example of Negoro ware, a generic term used to refer to simple, functional vessels covered in red lacquer over layers of black lacquer that are revealed where the red is rubbed off. Mostly produced for Buddhist and Shinto ceremonial use, Negoro was originally created at the head temple of the Shingi Shingon sect in Wakayama Prefecture.

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