Theatrical robe for a female Daoist priest

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This robe with colorful patchwork was a typical costume for the role of a female Daoist priest. A similar robe now in the collection of the Palace Museum, in Beijing, bears ink inscriptions that indicate it was called a “rice-paddy robe,” as its patchwork resembles the irrigated lowlands where rice is grown. Embroidery featuring multiple flowers adds charm and further suggests that the robe was designed for a female character.

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