Chinese Textiles: Dyeing and Weaving in the Liao Dynasty
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Brocade, Design of paired birds and beasts on a red ground(detail)
Excavated from tomb in Inner Mongolia, China, Liao dynasty, 10th–11th centuryAsian Gallery (Toyokan) Room 5
July 14, 2026 (Tue) - September 6, 2026 (Sun)The Khitan state, founded in 916 by Yelü Abaoji (872–926), expanded its territory and came to be known as the “Liao.” As Han Chinese populations moved into the region, silk textile production flourished under Liao rule. Archaeological excavations of Liao-period tombs conducted from the 1970s to the 1990s have shed light on the garments, dyeing and weaving techniques, and preferred patterns of the Liao people. This exhibition introduces the characteristic techniques and motifs of these works, while also highlighting their connections with Japanese textiles
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | Textile with Paired Birds and Beasts | Found in a tomb in Inner Mongolia, China | Liao dynasty, 10th–11th century | TI-595-1 | |||
| Highlight | Fragment of a Pao Garment with Paired Herons and Clouds | China | Liao dynasty, 10th century | TI-595-3 | |||
| Highlight | Textile with Clouds and an Auspicious Bird, Silk tapestry (kesi) with gold leaf | China | Liao dynasty, 10th century | Gift of Ms. Tajima Fusae, TI-593 |