Woman's Robe with "Longevity" Medallions

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This robe, when worn with a matching dark blue coat (also in the Museum's collection), would have been appropriate formal wear for the wife of a nobleman or official on auspicious occasions such as birthdays. Each of the medallions combines the character for longevity (shou) with a pair of swastikas (wan), denoting ten thousand years.

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