Vase with Birthday Reception for General Guo Ziyi

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This vase shows the birthday celebration for the Tang dynasty general Guo Ziyi (697–781). The scene at the foot of the vase shows the arrival of guests bearing gifts, among them a court robe and hat. The body of the vase features a joyful reception where the general and his wife receive congratulatory wishes from family members and guests. At the top of the vase, none other than Shoulao himself, the god of longevity, presides over the festivities, flanked by the eight Daoist immortals. The identity of Guo Ziyi, who achieved the rank of prince of Fenyang after suppressing the An Lushan rebellion, is confirmed by the inscription "Fenyang Manor" (Fenyang fu) above the entrance to the residence.

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