Kingfisher and Irises

Utagawa Hiroshige

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

As part of the Boys’ Day celebration, on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar year, irises (ayame) were attached to the eaves of a family’s house. The anonymous poet here suggests that the fragrance is transferred to the garments of those standing below: 雨垂に　袖もあやめに　匂ひけり Amadare ni sode mo ayame ni nioi keri Rain dripping from the eaves drenches our kimono sleeves with the fragrance of irises. —Trans. John T. Carpenter

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