The Cleveland Museum of Art
Collection Online as of March 25, 2025
Buddhist Vestment (Kesa)
early 1900s
Location: not on view
Did You Know?
This kesa depicts bird cages, but all the birds portrayed fly free.Description
Kesa are Buddhist monastic robes that originated in India. The robes are named after the brown or saffron dye originally used in their production. The primary motif on this seven-paneled kesa is a long-tailed bird with a flower in its mouth. This motif was imported from Persia (present-day Iran) through China during the Nara period (710–794)and is interpreted as a positive symbol. The bird delivers happiness in its mouth.- Cleveland Museum of Art, and Sŏn Sŭng-hye. The Lure of Painted Poetry: Japanese and Korean Art. Cleveland: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2011. Mentioned: P. 71; reproduced: P. 74, no. 71
- Japanese Religious Art (Japanese art rotation). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (October 8, 2021-April 3, 2022).Rinpa (琳派). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (April 23-October 3, 2021).Cleveland Museum of Art, (3/2/ 2011 - 8/21/2011); "The Lure of Painted Poetry: Cross-cultural Text and Image in Korean and Japanese Art" cat. 71The Lure of Painted Poetry: Japanese and Korean Art. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (April 15-August 21, 2011).Arts of Japan from the Cleveland Museum of Art. Mansfield Art Center, Mansfield, OH (organizer) (March 25-April 22, 1979).
- {{cite web|title=Buddhist Vestment (Kesa)|url=false|author=|year=early 1900s|access-date=25 March 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}
Source URL:
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1916.1340