Long-Sleeved Robe (Furisode) with Phoenixes, Cherry Blossoms, Peonies, and Maple Branches

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This sumptuous, long-sleeved robe was made for a young noble lady in Kyoto, Yuki-gimi (Princess Yuki), who was the daughter of the twentieth head priest of the influential Higashi Honganji Temple in Kyoto. It is very rare that the name of the original owner of an Edo-period garment is recorded. The auspicious phoenixes and seasonal motifs—cherry blossoms for spring, and chrysanthemums and maples for autumn—are executed entirely in embroidery and exceptional gold-thread couching on a bright red crepe silk ground, which was colored using a Western aniline dye.

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