Celebratory scene

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Dozens of guests and family members converge at a reception hall to pay their respects to an honored couple. Despite the absence of written inscriptions, the imagery of the work identifies the event and its setting: the birthday party of the celebrated Tang-dynasty general Guo Ziyi (697–781) at his residence. According to legend, Guo had many sons and grandsons, all of whom were highly successful in their official careers. By the seventeenth century, Guo’s reception had become a metaphor for auspicious birthday celebrations in general. It was frequently depicted on large works that were given as congratulatory gifts to distinguished individuals.

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