Noh Robe (Karaori) with Pattern of Bamboo and Young Pines on Bands of Red and White

Noh Robe (Karaori) with Pattern of Bamboo and Young Pines on Bands of Red and White

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This resplendent Noh costume presents a wealth of auspicious symbolism on a background of horizontal bands. Green and gold pine and bamboo flourish on the wintry white bands, and continuous golden patterns of hexagons and interlocking circles grace the red. Pine and bamboo, also seen on the smaller robe shown in this case, traditionally represent winter and a joyous new year. The hexagonal pattern is associated with longevity because of its similarity to a turtle's shell, and the design of interlocking circles, termed shippō (literally, "seven treasures"), lends an aura of prosperity. The resist-dyeing of the warps, reserved in white and dyed in red, imparts a pleasing softness to the boundaries between the bands.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Noh Robe (Karaori) with Pattern of Bamboo and Young Pines on Bands of Red and WhiteNoh Robe (Karaori) with Pattern of Bamboo and Young Pines on Bands of Red and WhiteNoh Robe (Karaori) with Pattern of Bamboo and Young Pines on Bands of Red and WhiteNoh Robe (Karaori) with Pattern of Bamboo and Young Pines on Bands of Red and WhiteNoh Robe (Karaori) with Pattern of Bamboo and Young Pines on Bands of Red and White

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.