The Legendary Empress Jingū

Katsushika Hokusai 葛飾北斎

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Jingū is said to have been a third-century ruler of Japan. Following the death of her husband, she donned armor and, according to legend, led a military campaign into the Korean peninsula. A powerful shamaness, Jingū is regarded as an example of the onna-bugeisha, woman warriors who fought alongside men. She is often depicted in masculine garb with a sword, a bow, and a quiver of arrows.

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