Kimono with Pines, Bamboo, and Plum

Kimono with Pines, Bamboo, and Plum

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

At first glance it might not be obvious that the trio of plants traditionally known as the Three Friends of Winter (shōchikubai)—pine, bamboo, and plum—are all depicted on this kimono. The evergreen pine, hand-painted above the hem in green glowing gold against the lavender ground, represents longevity and symbolizes renewal. The fast-growing and flexible bamboo, as the woven pattern of the purple fabric, stands for endurance and strength. The crest-shaped plum blossoms, in white embroidery on the shoulders, are the first flowers of spring and epitomize the renewal of nature. Together, these three auspicious patterns, which originated in China, have a long history in Japanese textile art. Here, however, the playful distribution of the motifs on the surface and the division of the space into a larger dark purple section and a narrower, lighter area represent a new, modern take on a conventional subject.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Kimono with Pines, Bamboo, and PlumKimono with Pines, Bamboo, and PlumKimono with Pines, Bamboo, and PlumKimono with Pines, Bamboo, and PlumKimono with Pines, Bamboo, and Plum

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.