Glossary of Foreign Terms/Words/Concepts

​                                                                        According to Chinese mythology, the Dragon's Gateis

                                                                      located at the top of a waterfall cascading from a legendary

                                                                      mountain. Many carp (koi*) swim upstream against the river's

                                                                      strong current, but few are capable or brave enough for the

                                                                      final leap over the waterfall. If a carp successfully makes the 

                                                                      jump, it is transformed into a powerful dragon. A Chinese 

                                                                      dragon's large, conspicuous scales indicate its origin from a

                                                                      carp. The Chinese dragon has long been an auspicious

                                                                      symbol of great and benevolent, magical power.
 

                                                                          Legend says that long ago, there was an abundance of

                                                                       golden koi fish in the Yellow River in China. They made their

                                                                      way upstream, going against the current, building strength

                                                                      and perseverance. Their golden hue made the river shimmer

                                                                      as if it was a river of gold.

Halfway upstream, they came to a large waterfall, an impossible height that is too high to traverse. This waterfall is known as the “Dragon’s Gate” in Hunan province. Most of the koi turned back, going with the current to safer ground. However, some koi stayed and attempted to jump and surpass the waterfall. Some of them got halfway, but then pummelled back downstream after they’ve lost momentum and energy.

The spirits of the river watched the koi try over and over again, making fun of them as they found it amusing.

This went on for one hundred years, the group of koi continued to try and swim up the waterfall but always stopped at exactly that waterfall. At each attempt the koi made it slightly further, gaining technique and strength as they practiced that waterfall.

The spirits continued to make fun of the koi, knowing that it’s such an impossible feat to make it past the waterfall.

One koi tried a different strategy. It went down to the bottom
of the river, built up as much speed as it could, and leaped
out of the water. It swam as hard as it could up the walls.
Somehow, it reached the top of the waterfall, and continued
to swim upstream.

The spirits were silenced watching that scene - how the koi
succeeded in the impossible. Knowing the multiple attempts
that the koi have tried over the years,

The spirits transformed the koi into a golden dragon as a
reward for its achievement. In the Chinese culture, a golden
dragon is the ultimate symbol of power and strength. That is also how the waterfall is known to be Dragon’s Gate - through this popular fable.

The image of a carp jumping over Dragon's Gate is an old and enduring Chinese cultural symbol for courage, perseverance, and accomplishment. Historically, the dragon was the exclusive symbol of the emperor of China and the five-character expression, Liyu Tiao Long Men, was originally used as a metaphor for a person's success in passing very difficult imperial examinations, required for entry into imperial administrative service. To this day, when a student from a remote country village passes the rigorous national university examination in China, friends and family proudly refer to the 'Liyu Tiao Long Men.' More generally, the expression is used to communicate that if a person works hard and diligently, success will one day be achieved.

*The koi fish is a fresh-water carp commonly bred to celebrate its beautiful color patterns and scales. The fish is kept in ponds or aquariums as decorative or symbolic reasons.

The word “koi“ is Japanese for carp, used to describe all carps, even the less flashy types with muted colors. They are rich with symbolic significance especially in Japanese and Chinese culture and history. Known universally as a symbol of strength, perseverance, love, bravery and dedication, enthusiasts collect both the living carp as well as items or art.