Rock-form ornament with poem composed by the Qianlong Emperor

Rock-form ornament with poem composed by the Qianlong Emperor

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This unusual “rock” was carved from a pale-green jade boulder to resemble a highly appreciated type of scholar’s rock from Lake Tai. The scalloped surface on such rocks is shaped over a long time by underwater erosion. The flat surface of the top corner is incised with the Qianlong Emperor’s poem, dated spring 1757, expressing his wonder at the strange form of the rock and connecting it with another famous scenic spot, Feilai Hill, or Peak Flew Hither, in Hangzhou.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Rock-form ornament with poem composed by the Qianlong EmperorRock-form ornament with poem composed by the Qianlong EmperorRock-form ornament with poem composed by the Qianlong EmperorRock-form ornament with poem composed by the Qianlong EmperorRock-form ornament with poem composed by the Qianlong Emperor

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.