Mirror (Shinjūkyō) Based on Han Dynasty Prototype with Cosmological Design

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Japanese “deity and beast mirror” (shinjūkyō) is an ancient type of round bronze mirror decorated with images from Chinese mythology and cosmology. The obverse of this example features a polished mirror, while relief representations of Chinese deities and legendary creatures decorate the reverse. As Chinese bronze-casting technology spread, these mirrors were produced in Japan, beginning in the Kofun period. Based on their mysterious ability to reflect all things (a property they share with swords and jewels), mirrors are attributed with profound religious significance and have been used in Shinto rituals since ancient times.

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