The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 20, 2025

Finely embroidered silk textile depicting two carp, dark and light grey scaled fish, twisting among swirling dark blue water. The scales of the fish are outlined in light grey and the swirling currents of the water in white. Smaller, gold swirls and clusters of different-sized circles wind around the carp. One carp wiggles down and to our left while the other curves in a "C" shape, looking up in the upper left.

Gift Cover (Fukusa) with Carp in Waves

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.)
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wade 1916.1324
Location: Not on view

Description

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.
  • ?-1916
    Mr. Jeptha Homer Wade II [1857-1926] and Mrs. Ellen Garretson Wade [1859-1917], Cleveland, OH, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    1916-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Japanese Gallery 235 Rotation. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (January 24-October 11, 2020).
  • {{cite web|title=Gift Cover (Fukusa) with Carp in Waves|url=false|author=|year=1868–1912|access-date=20 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1916.1324