Show Off Your Pots and Cups, Part III

[britt]

We can't forget the Chinese Yixing version of the carp, usually accompanied by a dragon.

Maybe chamekke can back me up on this but isn't there a Japanese legend that carp ascend to the heavens and become dragons?

I know of a Chinese legend about what they term the dragon-fish.

There is apparently a belief that if you can pass through the Dragon Gate, you will become a dragon. The only problem is, it's not easy. There is a waterfall in the entrance, and one must overcome this to pass through the gate and become a dragon.

A small carp continued trying to pass through the gate, each time failing and submitting to the jeers of his carp-friends. Uninhibited by the verbal abuse, he continued trying. Then one day, of course, he made it through and found fame and fortune when Yixing potters decided to engrave this legend on their teapots.

Most Yixing dragon-fish pots I've seen show the carp on one side and the dragon on the other. I've seen at least one that shows the carp actually passing through the Dragon Gate and it's resulting transformation. The rear half, not yet passed through the waterfall, is still a fish; the front half, having passed, has become a dragon.

There seems to be a point made by this story about persistence turning failure into success. I don't know if I got this legend 100% correct, but this is basically what I've heard and read.

[scruffmcgruff]

Maybe chamekke can back me up on this but isn't there a Japanese legend that carp ascend to the heavens and become dragons?

I'm going to sound like an idiot for this, but here goes. In the Pokemon games, Magikarp (a useless carp) "evolves" into Gyarados (a beastly dragon) when leveled-up sufficiently. I guess it would make sense for that to be inspired by a legend.

*runs and hides in shame*

[P.S. Salsero, back me up!]

[Geekgirl]

I have no carp (and I must scream?). But I really love the fish-bowls above - and I love Geekgirl's word "teacarp"!

Anyway, here's a simple little chawan with killifish (medaka in Japanese). The shape is non-seasonal, but the motif is pure summertime:

Wow, killis? Very cute. I knew nothing about Medaka (not being a popular aquatic trade fish-- prettier species of killis from S.America and Africa) but very cool to see it on a cup. There's a pot I'm looking at, would explain the non-goldfish appearance of the fish. Ha!

[chamekke]

We can't forget the Chinese Yixing version of the carp, usually accompanied by a dragon.

Maybe chamekke can back me up on this but isn't there a Japanese legend that carp ascend to the heavens and become dragons?

I'm afraid I don't really know much about carp, except that koi are associated with Boys' Day (May 5) ... I think because they are felt to show the "manly" qualities of courage, perseverance, etc. Hence the koi-nobori or koi banners that are flown at that time.

That's not much help with your question, sadly

[chamekke]

Anyway, here's a simple little chawan with killifish (medaka in Japanese). The shape is non-seasonal, but the motif is pure summertime:

Wow, killis? Very cute. I knew nothing about Medaka (not being a popular aquatic trade fish-- prettier species of killis from S.America and Africa) but very cool to see it on a cup. There's a pot I'm looking at, would explain the non-goldfish appearance of the fish. Ha!

I found another depiction of killifish on this Japanese platter (where they are about to be chomped down upon by a hungry catfish!):



This seems to be the standard Japanese depiction of killifish, all right. Do the fish on the pot you're considering look like these little guys?

[henley]

I'm afraid I don't really know much about carp, except that koi are associated with Boys' Day (May 5) ... I think because they are felt to show the "manly" qualities of courage, perseverance, etc. Hence the koi-nobori or koi banners that are flown at that time.

I've not seen Boys' Day mentioned here before. We have friends who are originally from Japan & every year, they send our kids something for Girls' Day (Mar 3 isn't it?) & Boys' Day.

[Geekgirl]

This seems to be the standard Japanese depiction of killifish, all right. Do the fish on the pot you're considering look like these little guys?

Somewhat, they actually look almost exactly like the first pic you posted.

[Victoria]

I found this - similar to Britt's -

Another legend says that the carps able to leap over the Dragon Gate would become dragons. Several waterfalls and cataracts in China are believed to be the location of the Dragon Gate. This legend is an allegory of the drive and efforts needed to overcome obstacles.

No carp, but I have been looking for an excuse to post my Dragon Pic.


-clicky-

[chamekke]

I'm afraid I don't really know much about carp, except that koi are associated with Boys' Day (May 5) ... I think because they are felt to show the "manly" qualities of courage, perseverance, etc. Hence the koi-nobori or koi banners that are flown at that time.

I've not seen Boys' Day mentioned here before. We have friends who are originally from Japan & every year, they send our kids something for Girls' Day (Mar 3 isn't it?) & Boys' Day.

Yes, Girls' Day is on March 3rd (third day of the third month). It is also called Hinamatsuri a.k.a. the Dolls' Festival. I think it's also called the Peach Festival - can't remember the Japanese name for that, though - Momomatsuri maybe?

Boys' Day, a.k.a. Tango no Sekku, is on May 5th (fifth day of the fifth month). At least, it was originally called Boys' Day, but because it was a civic holiday whereas Girls' Day is not, it was decided to call it "Children's Day" (Kodomo no Hi) instead, and to open it up to children of both sexes. So nominally it's a holiday that celebrates "children" rather than boys. However, it still focuses on male symbols and the traits traditionally associated with maleness (the kabuto or samurai helmet; the iris and its leaves, which are said to resemble sword blades; "hero" dolls; and so on).

Wikipedia:
Hinamatsuri
Kodomo no Hi / Tango no Sekku (P.S. carp alert!!)

[Chip]

I found this - similar to Britt's -

Another legend says that the carps able to leap over the Dragon Gate would become dragons. Several waterfalls and cataracts in China are believed to be the location of the Dragon Gate. This legend is an allegory of the drive and efforts needed to overcome obstacles.

No carp, but I have been looking for an excuse to post my Dragon Pic.


-clicky-

I have some dragons, well more than a few.

[britt]

I found this - similar to Britt's -

Another legend says that the carps able to leap over the Dragon Gate would become dragons. Several waterfalls and cataracts in China are believed to be the location of the Dragon Gate. This legend is an allegory of the drive and efforts needed to overcome obstacles.

No carp, but I have been looking for an excuse to post my Dragon Pic.

This legend is actually true. I tried it and it worked. You see the Arita Dragon cup in my avatar? It used to be an Arita carp cup like Salsero's.

Awesome dragon you've got there! It goes well with the pair of shishi.

[britt]

I've not seen Boys' Day mentioned here before. We have friends who are originally from Japan & every year, they send our kids something for Girls' Day (Mar 3 isn't it?) & Boys' Day.

Rikyucha and Ichiroya Antiques often have Boy's Day items for sale, some of them decades old.

They typically include samurai armor sets, samurai helmets, swords on sword stands, archery sets, samurai scrolls, toy cannons, etc. Japan doesn't just have great tea; they have some awesome toys as well!

[britt]

However, it still focuses on male symbols and the traits traditionally associated with maleness (the kabuto or samurai helmet; the iris and its leaves, which are said to resemble sword blades;

Chamekke- thanks for answering a question that I never actually asked. I recently saw a Kyo-yaki tea cup added to a vendor's web-store in celebration of Boy's Day. It had a very cool samurai helmet painted on the cup, along with three types of flowers. When I saw it I asked myself, "why do they always screw up these male themes by adding flowers to them?" Now I know why.

Although I didn't know the difference between the three types of flowers before, after your comparison of the Iris to sword blades it's easy to pick out the Iris, and yes, they do mimic sword blades quite well.

[hop_goblin]

However, it still focuses on male symbols and the traits traditionally associated with maleness (the kabuto or samurai helmet; the iris and its leaves, which are said to resemble sword blades;

Chamekke- thanks for answering a question that I never actually asked. I recently saw a Kyo-yaki tea cup added to a vendor's web-store in celebration of Boy's Day. It had a very cool samurai helmet painted on the cup, along with three types of flowers. When I saw it I asked myself, "why do they always screw up these male themes by adding flowers to them?" Now I know why.

Although I didn't know the difference between the three types of flowers before, after your comparison of the Iris to sword blades it's easy to pick out the Iris, and yes, they do mimic sword blades quite well.

Awesome cup!!!

[Mary R]

Is it over? Of course not! Check out "Show Off Your Pots and Cups, Part IV."