Panel with the five poisonous creatures

China

Ming dynasty (1368–1644), Wanli period (1573–1620)

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 207

Woven using one of the oldest and most developed techniques of Chinese textiles, this gauze features subtle patterns in a monochrome palette. The design presents five poisonous creatures: the centipede, lizard, scorpion, snake, and toad. Their protective qualities are called upon during the Duanwu Festival, or the Dragon Boat Festival, which occurs on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. People wear clothes and use objects depicting these creatures during the festival to ward off harm.

Panel with the five poisonous creatures, Silk in patterned simple gauze, China

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Panel with the five poisonous creatures, Silk in patterned simple gauze, China
Panel with the five poisonous creatures, Silk in patterned simple gauze, China

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