Returned to lender The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.
Surcoat (Jinbaori)
Not on view
This sleeveless surcoat (jinbaori) was designed to be worn over armor. It is decorated with chrysanthemum flowers, which represent longevity. The front opening is lined with gold brocade decorated with dragonflies (kachi-mushi), a motif popular among warriors, as dragonflies always fly straight ahead, never backward. As such, they became associated with victory and bravery.
The text is embroidered over an ink underdrawing to imitate manuscript writing. The poetic inscription, perhaps added at a later date, is rendered in a mixture of highly cursive Chinese characters and characters that are read phonetically (sōgana). It reads:
Saki-idete
katsu-iro miseyo
After bursting into bloom
show your triumphant colors
—Trans. John T. Carpenter
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