Immortal Holding a Peach

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The figure on this silk tapestry panel is Dongfang Shuo who symbolizes wisdom and longevity. As a historical person, Dongfang (154–93 B.C.) was famed for his immense erudition and humorous speeches. In later legend, as seen here, he steals the magical peaches from the orchard of the Queen Mother of the West (Xiwangmu) and becomes a famous immortal. The layout and powerful outlines, also present in sixteenth-century painting, help date this tapestry. Found on both sides of the panel, the red seals state that it had once been stored in the imperial study of the Qianlong Emperor (r. 1736–95), one of the greatest art collectors in Chinese history.

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