Gift Cover (Fukusa) with Carp in Waves
Unknown Artist
1868–1912
Medium
Silk: embroidered; metallic thread
Dimensions
87.3 × 71.8 cm
Classification
Embroidery
Department
Textiles
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wade
Accession Number
1916.1324
About this artwork
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 (fukus...