Pomegranates

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

As the Chinese character for “seed” (zi) is the same as that for “son,” the many-seeded pomegranate is viewed as a symbol for having multiple sons who are expected to continue the family line. The use of puns and rebuses to express wishes for good fortune, longevity, prosperity, and even academic success has been a common theme in Chinese art.

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