Atsuita Garment (Noh costume), Lion design on dark blue ground, Edo period, 17th century
Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 9
December 5, 2017 (Tue) - February 18, 2018 (Sun)
Noh theater, one of Japan’s traditional performing arts, was presented at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples as an offering to the gods. In return, people hoped to be blessed with rich harvests, numerous descendants, as well as long and healthy lives. For this reason, props and costumes for Noh were often decorated with auspicious patterns – some Chinese in origin and others uniquely Japanese – that reflected these wishes. We invite visitors to take a closer look at these brilliant patterns that embody the hope for good fortune.
Current exhibit includes:
Atsuita Garment (Noh costume), Lion design on dark blue ground, Edo period, 17th century
Nuihaku (Noh costume), Stylized wave, mandarin duck, and Japanese spatterdock design on scarlet ground, Edo period, 18th century