Letter

Jiao Hong

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

A native of Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, Jiao Hong was a prolific scholar, noted bibliophile, and important calligrapher who passed the civil service examination in 1589 with the highest honors and was appointed to a succession of official positions before resigning and returning home in 1599. In this letter, Jiao acknowledges a request for his calligraphy relayed by Minister of Rites Huang Ruliang (1554–1647). The request entailed inscribing a panel with four large characters, “Famous Practitioner of the Medical Arts,” for someone to present to a certain Dr. Li as an expression of gratitude for his services.

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