Cleveland Museum of Art

Gift Cover (Fukusa) with Carp in Waves

Date

1868–1912

Medium

Silk: embroidered; metallic thread

Culture

Japan, Meiji period (1868–1912)

Department

Textiles

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

The motif of carp in rough water originated in China. The expression “carp jumping over the Dragon Gate” ( liyu tiao longmen ) refers to attaining success in life, or, historically, to passing the imperial examinations for civil service. Dragon Gate is a steep gorge of the Yellow River at Hejing in Shanxi province, and it was once said that if a carp swimming upstream could surmount the gorge, it would instantly transform into a dragon and fly into the sky. In Japan, therefore, a gift cover ( fukusa ) like this would have been appropriate to celebrate the recipient’s achievements.

The authoritative record is held by Cleveland Museum of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.