Woman's Ensemble of Robe and Coat with Shou Medallions

Woman's Ensemble of Robe and Coat with Shou Medallions

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This ensemble of robe and coat constittued formal wear for the wife of a nobleman or official on auspicious occasions such as birthdays. The darker, simpler coat which fastens down the front, was worn over the more elaborate robe. the ensemble is decorated with large medallions of the character shou, meaning longevity. This version of shou incorporates the swastika, wan, denoting ten thousand years.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Woman's Ensemble of Robe and Coat with Shou MedallionsWoman's Ensemble of Robe and Coat with Shou MedallionsWoman's Ensemble of Robe and Coat with Shou MedallionsWoman's Ensemble of Robe and Coat with Shou MedallionsWoman's Ensemble of Robe and Coat with Shou Medallions

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.