Noh Robe (Karaori) with Autumn Grasses and Butterflies

Noh Robe (Karaori) with Autumn Grasses and Butterflies

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Colorful autumn grasses, chrysanthemums, miscanthus grass, bellflowers, bush clovers, wild pinks, and scattered butterflies embellish the deep red ground of this Noh robe. The painterly composition, with delicately swaying miscanthus leaves creating the illusion of an autumn field, repeats in uncommonly long patterned units. A similar robe is associated with the Noh play Lady Aoi (Aoi no ue), based on an episode from The Tale of Genji in which the murderous wandering spirit of Genji’s mistress Lady Rokujō torments his wife, Lady Aoi. Having just given birth to Genji’s son Yūgiri, Aoi suffers from an illness caused by a possessive spirit that cannot be subdued, despite the efforts of numerous exorcists. The ailing Aoi never appears onstage; instead, a folded robe represents her during the play.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Noh Robe (Karaori) with Autumn Grasses and ButterfliesNoh Robe (Karaori) with Autumn Grasses and ButterfliesNoh Robe (Karaori) with Autumn Grasses and ButterfliesNoh Robe (Karaori) with Autumn Grasses and ButterfliesNoh Robe (Karaori) with Autumn Grasses and Butterflies

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.