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Welcoming spring

15th century
Not on view
In Chinese, both goats and sheep are called yang 羊, which sounds like the word for “sun” (yang 陽). Three goats together, a motif repeated three times here, thus evokes the phrase “three suns welcome spring” (sanyang kaitai 三陽開泰), a wish for an auspicious new year taken from the ancient Book of Change (Yi Jing).

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 明早期 刺繡開泰圖
  • Title: Welcoming spring
  • Artist: Unidentified artist Chinese, 14th–15th century
  • Period: Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
  • Date: 15th century
  • Culture: China
  • Medium: Silk embroidery on simple gauze silk
  • Dimensions: Overall: 84 x 25 in. (213.4 x 63.5 cm)
  • Classification: Textiles-Embroidered
  • Credit Line: Purchase, The Dillon Fund Gift, 1981
  • Object Number: 1981.410
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

Audio

Cover Image for 7325. Welcoming Spring

7325. Welcoming Spring

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