koi-no-takinobori 鯉の滝登り

Lit. carp ascending a waterfall. The Chinese legend of a carp that became a dragon after swimming up a waterfall at the headwaters of the Yellow River. This auspicious theme, a parable of effort and success, is linked to the Japanese Boys Day Festival (fifth day of fifth month) when carp streamers koinobori 鯉のぼり are displayed. The theme was depicted in Edo period art, as for example in the painting by Maruyama Ōkyo 円山応挙 (1733-95; Daijōji 大乗寺 in Hyōgo Prefecture) or prints by *ukiyo-e 浮世絵 artists.