Hell

Seigan Sōi

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

A scroll inscribed with the characters for “Hell” would have made viewers reflect on their conduct and the transience of worldly phenomena. This work is a striking example of the individualistic calligraphy favored in Rinzai Zen circles and among tea aesthetes. Seigan Sōi, whose explosive brushwork creates the impression of a blade cutting through the paper, was abbot of Daitokuji Temple in Kyoto.

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