Panel with the five poisonous creatures

Panel with the five poisonous creatures

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Gauze weaving is one of the oldest and most developed textile techniques in China. The pieces feature subtle patterns produced in a monochrome palette. This panel was woven with a pattern featuring the five poisonous creatures: snake, centipede, scorpion, toad, and spider. Their protective qualities are called upon during the festival of Duanwu, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival, which occurs on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. The Chinese believe wearing clothes or using an object with representations of these creatures during the festival can ward off evil

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Panel with the five poisonous creaturesPanel with the five poisonous creaturesPanel with the five poisonous creaturesPanel with the five poisonous creaturesPanel with the five poisonous creatures

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.