Editing Carp (section)

==Common carp in culture==
{{Infobox Chinese
|title=Common carp
|pic=Carp (Chinese characters).svg
|piccap=The original Chinese character for "carp" in [[seal script]] (top), Traditional (middle), and Simplified (bottom) characters
|picupright=0.275
|t=鯉魚
|s=鲤鱼
|l="carp-fish"
|p=lǐyú
|w=li<sup>3</sup>-yü<sup>2</sup>
|mi={{IPAc-cmn|l|i|3|.|yu|2}}
|j=lei<sup>5</sup>-jyu<sup>4</sup>
|y=léih-yùh
|ci={{IPAc-yue|l|ei|5|.|j|yu|4}}
|kanji=鯉
|romaji=koi
}}

=== In Chinese literature ===

A long tradition of common carp exists in Chinese culture and literature. A popular lyric circulating as early as 2,000 years ago in the late [[Han period]] includes an anecdote which relates how a man far away from home sent back to his wife a pair of carp ({{zh|s=鲤鱼|p=Liyu}}), in which, when the wife opened the fish to cook, she found a silk strip that carried a love note of just two lines: "Eat well to keep fit, missing you and forget me not".

===Jumping carp the Chinese folk tale===
[[File:Carp in the flight - panoramio.jpg|thumb|Mirror carp jumping up into the air]]

At the [[Yellow River]] at [[Henan]] ({{Zh|c=河南|p=Hénán|w=Ho-nan}}) is a waterfall called the [[Longmen (mythology)|Dragon Gate]]. It is said that if certain carp called ''yulong'' can climb the cataract, they will transform into dragons. Every year in the third month of spring, they swim up from the sea and gather in vast numbers in the pool at the foot of the falls. It used to be said that only 71 could make the climb in any year. When the first succeeded, then the rains would begin to fall. This Dragon Gate was said to have been created after the flood by the god-emperor Yu, who split a mountain blocking the path of the Yellow River. It was so famous that throughout China was a common saying, "a student facing his examinations is like a carp attempting to leap the Dragon Gate."

Henan is not the only place where this happens. Many other waterfalls in China also have the name Dragon Gate and much the same is said about them. Other famous Dragon Gates are on the Wei River where it passes through the Lung Sheu Mountains and at Tsin in Shanxi Province.

The fish's jumping feature is set in such a proverbial idiom as "''Liyu'' (Carp) jumps over the Dragon Gate ({{zh|s=鲤跃龙门}})," an idiom that conveys a vivid image symbolizing a sudden uplifting in one's social status, as when one ascends into the upper society or has found favor with the royal or a noble family, perhaps through marriage, but in particular through success in the [[imperial examination]]. It is therefore an idiom often used to encourage students or children to achieve success through hard work and perseverance. This symbolic image, as well as the image of the carp itself, has been one of the most popular themes in Chinese paintings, especially those of popular styles. The fish is usually colored in gold or pink, shimmering with an unmistakably auspicious tone. 

=== In Japanese culture ===
The modern Japanese [[Koi]] fish are a brightly colored species of the [[Cyprinus rubrofuscus|Amur carp]] that have been bred by rice farmers in Japan since the early 19th century.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-04-25 |title=Japanese koi |url=https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/japanese-koi |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=Smithsonian's National Zoo |language=en}}</ref> This subspecies of carp plays a significant role in Japanese art, often being depicted as symbols of luck, strength, and tenacity.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-06 |title=The Koi Carp Fish in Japan: What is Their Significance? - Interac Network |url=https://interacnetwork.com/what-is-the-significance-of-the-koi-carp-in-japan/ |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=interacnetwork.com |language=en-US}}</ref> For this reason, Koi fish are also presented as gifts in Japanese culture as symbols of love, gratitude, and peace. Their bright colors and unique patterns present a high degree of eloquence to the Japanese people, thus creating a level of respect and appreciation for the Koi.

With Koi fish being at the forefront of a lot of Japanese art, it is common to find modern depictions of Koi in paintings, home art, murals, and even tattoos.

To many people, Koi fish strongly represent [[Samurai]] warriors, as they are able to be seen swimming upwards against a rivers current, symbolizing a Samurai's bravery. One typical saying is the phrase "koi no taki-nobori", translating to "Carp climbing the waterfalls", a phrase that is used to describe a persons strength and perseverance.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Informer (Abi) |first=Pond |date=2021-05-20 |title=A History of Koi in Mythology [Updated] |url=https://pondinformer.com/koi-mythology/ |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=Pond Informer |language=en}}</ref>