Kesa
Date18th century
Maker
Japanese
Label TextPieced together in a patch-work manner, this kesa, a Buddhist monk’s overcoat, is made of lavish brocade, which was likely donated by a devotee from a wealthy family. Such donations were considered an act that results in the accumulation of karmic merit for the donor. An old master monk would pass on his kesa to his disciple, signifying the transmission of the dharma (teaching).
Object number41.33
Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Going For Gold, Nov. 3, 2012 - Dec. 8, 2013.
Seattle, Washington, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Boundless: Stories of Asian Art, Feb. 8, 2020 - ongoing [on view Dec. 10, 2021 - July 31, 2022].Credit LineEugene Fuller Memorial Collection
DimensionsOverall: 45 1/2 × 80 1/2 in. (115.6 × 204.5 cm)
MediumSilk cloth and gold threads
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