So hello, and thank you for joining us today
for The Met's Lunar New Year Festival: Year of the Ox.
My name is Wayne Ho, and I'm a member
of the Advisory Committee in Cultural Engagement at The Met.
Today, it's my pleasure to introduce
Celebrating the Year of the Ox.
As we celebrate the Year of the Ox,
we are highlighting art and traditions from across Asia.
Please be sure to check out the festival event page
at metmuseum.org to explore more virtual activities
celebrating the Lunar New Year.
The Lunar New Year Festival: Year of the Ox
has been made possible in part
by council member Keith Powers.
And now, we are proud to present Jason Sun,
the Brooke Russell Astor Curator of Chinese Art,
for a virtual highlights tour
of Celebrating the Year of the Ox.
This exhibition presents depictions of oxen
and water buffalo created by artists over 3,000 years.
Hi, I'm Jason Sun, Curator of Chinese Art.
Welcome to The Metropolitan Museum
to celebrate with us the Lunar New Year.
This year is a Year of the Ox,
which begins on February the 12th.
We are pleased to present an exhibition
celebrating the Year of the Ox
with a fine selection of works
drawn from the museum's permanent collection
and a few exciting loans.
In China, the association of animals with the calendar
has a long history of more than 2,000 years.
In the course of time, these animals
have become popular subjects
and have been represented in various media.
An exquisite example in this exhibition
is a set of small sculptures made from pale green jade.
They are 12 Zodiac animals
associated with the Lunar Calendar,
and they were most probably made
by the master carvers of the imperial workshop
in the 18th century.
They illustrate the 12 animals in a standard sequence,
which are, from left to right,
the rat,
ox,
tiger,
rabbit,
dragon,
snake,
horse,
sheep,
monkey,
rooster,
dog,
and pig.
Each one of the animals is dressed like a person in a long robe,
and sits in a relaxed posture.
And each one of them holds a different accessory
in their hand, such as a long stick,
a whisk, a hand scroll of painting or calligraphy,
a pearl, or a flower basket,
to represent their individual character.
In the Lunar Calendar, each animal is paired
with a given year, and that repeats in a 12 year cycle.
And each animal is believed to embody certain traits
that are shown in the personality of the people born
in that year.
For example, the ox is characterized
as hard working, honest, and resolute.
In China, oxen and water buffaloes
are considered the same category of animals.
They have been closely associated with human life
since thousands of years ago.
In ancient times, oxen were the most prestigious
of all the 3 million types of animals
that were offered to the ancestral spirits
at grand sacrificial ceremonies.
And their images were often used
to decorate the vessels used in the ritual,
like the one on the left,
and this is a wine container in the shape of an ox,
or on the right, which is a wine mixer with a spout,
also made of bronze, and that is decorated
with a face of a water buffalo with long horns.
In China's agricultural society, oxen and water buffaloes
played an essential role.
As draft animals, they would pull a plow in a field,
or drive a cart or carriage for transportation.
A striking example is this massive sculpture
of a water buffalo made from a huge block
of dark green jade, which weighs more than 40 pounds.
It depicts the powerful draft animal in a resting posture,
possibly taking a break after busy, hard work.
A popular theme in Chinese art is a herd boy
with a large water buffalo.
And oftentimes, the boy is depicted
sitting atop a buffalo playing a flute,
or holding a stalk of rice standing next to it,
as they are shown here in three beautiful examples,
all from the 17th and 18th century.
The one on the top left is made of copper and enamel colors,
and the one on the lower left
is carved from a beautiful piece of white jade.
And the one in the large picture,
and that is made of porcelain with bright colors.
These were all superb works of art,
representing the skills and talent
of the 17th and 18th century craftsmen.
In Chinese folklore, this image alludes
to a life of peace and prosperity in the ideal world.
The stalk of rice in the little boy's hand
in the jade sculpture quietly expresses the wish
for bounty harvest.
The ox and the water buffalo
are a symbol of strength and good health.
Let's hope that they will drive away the pandemic
and bring us a bright, healthy, and happy new year.
Thank you.