Table Tray (Tsuigasane)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

In the medieval period, Negoro vessels were used primarily by monks residing in Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, but aristocrats and high-ranking warriors also used them. Negoro ware is characterized by its strong wooden core, functional form, and the layered application of black and red lacquer. Over years of use, the uppermost layer of red lacquer rubs off and the underlying black layer becomes visible. Table trays (tsuigasane) are used in Shinto shrines to hold the rice that is tossed to drive away evil, part of the “rice-throwing” ceremony.

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