Acrobats

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

A troupe of acrobats performs remarkable feats, using bamboo poles and supports as props for balancing acts. This form of entertainment came to Japan from China in the seventh century; later, a type of acrobatics called “spider dancing” was sponsored by aristocrats and military leaders. With growing urbanization in the Edo period, acrobats began to perform in cities and towns for the enjoyment of all classes of society. Humorous poems scattered throughout this scroll make comic comparisons between acrobatic feats and the hardships of daily life.

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