Noh Costume (Karaori) with Pattern of Fans Floating on Water

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The layering of patterns and techniques is particularly complex in this Noh costume. The water pattern woven in gold, known as Kanze mizu ("Kanze water") because of its association with the Kanze school of Noh performers, flows gently over background blocks of red, brown, and light blue. On the water float various fans-open, closed, and half-open-that overlap intriguingly and, in their turn, are covered with flowers. Yōgao (literally, "evening faces") flowers partially cover the half-open fans, and the fully open fans are nearly concealed by auspiciously wrapped peonies and bush clover (hagi). The fan pattern repeats along the length of the costume but does not seem at all repetitive thanks to the skillful use of color in the textile.

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