Chinese Textiles: Auspicious Birds
-
Textile with Peonies and a Phoenix, Ming dynasty, 15th century
Asian Gallery (Toyokan) Room 5
December 6, 2022 (Tue) - March 5, 2023 (Sun)In connection with the Chinese New Year, this exhibition presents textiles with auspicious bird patterns. Throughout history, Chinese textiles were decorated with images of birds associated with good fortune. These included everyday birds such as cranes and Mandarin ducks, as well as imaginary birds such as Chinese phoenixes. Textile patterns with birds are reflections of Chinese thought and culture, and they represent people’s wishes for peace, harmony, longevity, and other blessings.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | Textile with Flowering Plants, Birds, and Beasts | China | Yuan dynasty, 13th–14th century | TI-553 | |||
| Highlight | Textile with Peonies and a Phoenix | China | Ming dynasty, 15th century | TI-556 | |||
| Highlight | Collar Decoration for Women's Court Dress with Peonies and Phoenixes | China | Ming dynasty, 16th–17th century | TI-475 | |||
| Highlight | Textile with Birds and Flowers | Found in a tomb in Inner Mongolia, China | Liao dynasty, 10th–11th century | TI-595-5 |