Textile with animals and woven inscription
On this colorful textile, several lively creatures climbing cloudlike mountains are interspersed with Chinese characters that form an incomplete auspicious inscription. The pattern of animals and clouds was popular on Chinese silks from the Han to the Jin dynasty (ca. 1st–3rd century). Textiles with such patterns have been found at archaeological sites all over China, including in the far west, and were often referred to in contemporary documents by complete or partial inscriptions. The inscription on this work includes the characters for ming guang (brightness), which is thought to denote the Ming Guang Palace, built for Emperor Wudi of the Han dynasty. The inscription honors the lord of the palace.
Artwork Details
- 1—3世紀 動物紋銘文錦
- Title: Textile with animals and woven inscription
- Period: Eastern Han dynasty (25–220)
- Date: 1st–3rd century
- Culture: China
- Medium: Warp-faced compound plain weave silk
- Dimensions: Overall: 8 1/4 × 17 5/16 in. (21 × 44 cm)
- Classification: Textiles-Woven
- Credit Line: Purchase, Friends of Asian Art Gifts, 2003
- Object Number: 2003.385a–e
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
China
3rd–5th century
Returned to lender
China
Returned to lender
China
3rd century
Returned to lender
China
China
3rd–5th century
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.