TASK III

張貼日期：Jun 14, 2014 1:49:51 AM

     Carp comes from China and has been introduced all over the world.

There are many artificial breeding species;

for example,

Koi fish is the artificial cultivation ornamental fish.

Chinese character of carp is pronounced as Li-Yu similar to “Li” from Ji-Li, fortunate.

Of Chinese idioms like Fu-Qui-Yo-Yu and Lian-Nian-Yo-Yu, Yu also means carp.

In ancient China,

the general fish cannot survive in Yellow River because of the muddy water,

but carp can. Because of the yellow mud as their growth environment,

carp from Yellow River is covered with golden scales.

The ancients found every spring these golden carps swam against the current and were all stopped by the waterfalls.

People imagined once these carps were able to leap the waterfalls,

they would become dragons flying to the heaven.

Thus, to mount the dragon gate was the metaphor for getting prestigious reception and helping raise their social status.

Besides, it was also a metaphor for a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations.