Incense Box (kōbako) in the Shape of Five Volumes of The Tale of Genji

Incense Box (kōbako) in the Shape of Five Volumes of The Tale of Genji

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This refined incense box in the shape of five books bound by a brocade cover bears the tale’s title in Japanese, Genji monogatari. The brocade design features medallion-shaped Chinese lions, peonies, and scattered “auspicious treasures.” The incense tray inside is embellished with a rolled-up bamboo blind and an attached “medicine ball” (kusudama), a hanging ornament that served as an amulet.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Incense Box (kōbako) in the Shape of Five Volumes of The Tale of GenjiIncense Box (kōbako) in the Shape of Five Volumes of The Tale of GenjiIncense Box (kōbako) in the Shape of Five Volumes of The Tale of GenjiIncense Box (kōbako) in the Shape of Five Volumes of The Tale of GenjiIncense Box (kōbako) in the Shape of Five Volumes of The Tale of Genji

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.