Woman's Sleeveless Jacket

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The small repeating roundels on this sleeveless jacket are a form of the Chinese character shou, signifying longevity. Each of the shou characters includes two wan characters (swastikas), signifying ten thousand years. The garment was appropriately worn for birthday celebrations.

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