Xu You and Chao Fu

Okumura Masanobu

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Masanobu's treatment of the classical story of Xu You and Chao Fu is straightforward. Xu You washes out his ears in a waterfall, and Chao Fu turns his ox around from the water. The style imitates the "rubbing" technique, a traditional method for renditions of classical inscriptions.

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