Buddhist Vestment (Kesa) with Maple Leaves and Fans

Buddhist Vestment (Kesa) with Maple Leaves and Fans

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

After the death of a woman of high social status, one or more of her treasured garments would often be presented to a temple, where they were made into altar cloths or vestments, like this kesa. Such donations constitute a form of shōgon, which was thought to bestow karmic merit on the donor. Shōgon refers to the gorgeous adornment of Buddhist altars and worship halls where rituals are performed.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Buddhist Vestment (Kesa) with Maple Leaves and FansBuddhist Vestment (Kesa) with Maple Leaves and FansBuddhist Vestment (Kesa) with Maple Leaves and FansBuddhist Vestment (Kesa) with Maple Leaves and FansBuddhist Vestment (Kesa) with Maple Leaves and Fans

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.