Tray with Scene from the Tale of Genji

Tray with Scene from the Tale of Genji

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The size, geometric motifs, and extensive use of pearl shell suggest that this tray may have been intended for trade to Europe. The imagery, however, derives from the Tale of Genji, one of Japan’s most famous literary works. Written by Lady Murasaki Shikibu (ca. 978–ca. 1014), this lengthy book traces the customs of the aristocratic society and the tumultuous love life of Hikaru Genji, a distant member of the imperial family. The tray illustrates a moment when Genji (seated in the cart and not visible) passes by a former illicit lover while traveling. Both are assailed by bittersweet memories as they glimpse each other in passing.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Tray with Scene from the Tale of GenjiTray with Scene from the Tale of GenjiTray with Scene from the Tale of GenjiTray with Scene from the Tale of GenjiTray with Scene from 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.