Birds Amidst Blossoming Plum and Bamboo

Birds Amidst Blossoming Plum and Bamboo

Lin Liang

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Identified by the white patch on their heads as "whitehaired oldsters" (baitou weng), the birds in this painting are auspicious symbols of longevity. Combined with the plum and bamboo—symbols of moral virtue and renewal—the painting would have made a fitting gift for a birthday or anniversary celebration.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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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.