Poem by the Monk Sosei (act. 850-97)

Suzuki Harunobu

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

On a misty spring day, two beauties stand under a parasol on a terrace near a torii gate in the old capital, Kyoto, viewing the cherry blossoms at their peak. Like fashion models, the two women show off their beautiful and elegant clothing. The woman on the left wears a kimono decorated with a design of pines on a sandy beach against a red ground and an obi with a bold pattern of checks. The other woman's kimono is decorated with chrysanthemums on a purple ground, and her obi has a striking design of "snow circles" (yukiwa) against a yellowish brown ground. Each protects her hair from dust with a white cloth, which is embossed. This scene is related to the famous waka poem by the monk Sosei, written across the top of the print: Looking far, I see willows and cherry blossoms mingling together— making the capital into a brocade of spring. (trans. by Steven D. Carter)

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