Vase with "One Hundred Deer" Motif

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Deer were considered supernatural creatures in premodern China, and they appear frequently in scenes of immortals and magical lands. Here, one hundred deer cavort in a magical landscape of towering pines. This imposing vase carries a second layer of meaning thanks to wordplay: the term for “one hundred deer,” bai lu (百鹿), is a homonym for bailu (百祿), the economic, cultural, and social benefits that could accrue during the course of an official career. The theme can thus be read as a wish to attain a position in government.

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