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The motif of carp in rough water originated in China. The expression “carp jumping over the Dragon Gate” (<em>liyu tiao longmen</em>) 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 (<em>fukusa</em>) like this would have been appropriate to celebrate the recipient’s achievements.

Page data

Page
1
Source index
0
Type
photo
Media ID
6ad094090f1966c8
Size
unknown

Document data

ID
95605
Core
obj
Type
object
DTO data
{
    "id": "95605",
    "contentType": "object",
    "title": "Gift Cover (Fukusa) with Carp in Waves",
    "description": "The motif of carp in rough water originated in China. The expression “carp jumping over the Dragon Gate” (<em>liyu tiao longmen</em>) 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 (<em>fukusa</em>) like this would have been appropriate to celebrate the recipient’s achievements.",
    "date": "1868–1912",
    "citation": "https://clevelandart.org/art/1916.1324",
    "rights": "CC0",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "wikidata": [
        "Q79477422"
    ],
    "genreSpecific": [
        "Embroidery"
    ],
    "iiifBase": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1324/1916.1324_web.jpg",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1324/1916.1324_web.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1324/1916.1324_web.jpg",
    "imageCount": 1,
    "source": "import",
    "dimensionsRaw": "Overall: 87.3 x 71.8 cm (34 3/8 x 28 1/4 in.)",
    "cul": [
        "Japan, Meiji period (1868–1912)"
    ],
    "accession": "1916.1324"
}

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Document identity
{
    "localId": "95605",
    "label": "Gift Cover (Fukusa) with Carp in Waves",
    "core": "obj",
    "dtoType": "object"
}
Document source metadata
{
    "id": "95605",
    "contentType": "object",
    "title": "Gift Cover (Fukusa) with Carp in Waves",
    "description": "The motif of carp in rough water originated in China. The expression “carp jumping over the Dragon Gate” (<em>liyu tiao longmen</em>) 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 (<em>fukusa</em>) like this would have been appropriate to celebrate the recipient’s achievements.",
    "date": "1868–1912",
    "citation": "https://clevelandart.org/art/1916.1324",
    "rights": "CC0",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "wikidata": [
        "Q79477422"
    ],
    "genreSpecific": [
        "Embroidery"
    ],
    "iiifBase": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1324/1916.1324_web.jpg",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1324/1916.1324_web.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1324/1916.1324_web.jpg",
    "imageCount": 1,
    "source": "import",
    "dimensionsRaw": "Overall: 87.3 x 71.8 cm (34 3/8 x 28 1/4 in.)",
    "cul": [
        "Japan, Meiji period (1868–1912)"
    ],
    "accession": "1916.1324"
}
Document source extras
{
    "tec": "Silk: embroidered; metallic thread",
    "tombstone": "Gift Cover (Fukusa) with Carp in Waves (波鯉図刺繍袱紗), 1868–1912. Japan, Meiji period (1868–1912). Silk: embroidered; metallic thread; overall: 87.3 x 71.8 cm (34 3/8 x 28 1/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wade, 1916.1324",
    "titleInOriginalLanguage": "波鯉図刺繍袱紗",
    "collection": "Textiles",
    "url": "https://clevelandart.org/art/1916.1324",
    "creditline": "Gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wade",
    "updatedAt": "2026-05-29 05:08:04.606000",
    "imageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1324/1916.1324_print.jpg",
    "sourceId": 95605,
    "dept": "Textiles",
    "coll": "Textiles",
    "med": "Silk: embroidered; metallic thread",
    "thumbnail_url": null,
    "image_url": null
}
Page context
{
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    "type": "photo",
    "url": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1324/1916.1324_web.jpg",
    "mediaId": "6ad094090f1966c8"
}