金魚好 / ColBase

Kingyo (Goldfish)

A fish originally bred from crucian carp for ornamental purposes. It often features in paintings and literary works.

The goldfish belongs to the family Cyprinidae, in the order Cypriniformes. They were originally bred from crucian carp, a genus in the Cyprinidae family, for ornamental purposes. The goldfish is a fish in the family Cyprinidae of order Cypriniformes. They were originally bred from crucian carp, a genus in the Cyprinidae family, for ornamental purposes. It is said that carp bred in China more than 1000 years ago is the beginning. The main varieties include Common goldfish, Ryukin, Red-cap Oranda, Ranchu and Oranda. Edogawa in Tokyo, Kazo in Saitama, Yatomi in Aichi, Yamatokoriyama in Nara, and Nagasu in Kumamoto are known as domestic goldfish production areas.

Although goldfish first appeared in Japan in 1502, it is thought commoners had been breeding goldfish since the Genroku period in the Edo era.

Toward the middle of the Edo era, during Hinamatsuri (the Doll Festival), the custom of displaying goldfish bowls on tiered stands became popular. The voices of goldfish salesmen could also be heard in the town of Edo during the Momo no Sekku (another name for the Doll Festival).

Kuniyoshi Utagawa personified the goldfish in the Ukiyo-e, Kingyozukushi (All Kinds of Goldfish) series with his humorous portrayal of summer customs.

Related People, Things and Events

A representative painter of the Utagawa school on par with Kuniyoshi Utagawa who painted the Kingyozukushi (“All Kinds of Goldfish”) series.
In the mid-Edo period (around 1700–1750), there was a custom of displaying goldfish bowls on tiered stands during Hinamatsuri (“Doll Festival”).

Books

安達喜之著,奚疑齋増補,丹波屋理兵衞 [ほか2名]
『金魚養玩草』は、江戸時代中期に出版された初めての金魚飼育書。本資料はその初版本。金魚の由来、尾形など形状の説明、飼育・繁殖方法などを解説する。
安達喜之著,奚疑斎増補,河内屋喜兵衞
『金魚養玩草』の後刷版。末尾に折本『[後編]金魚秘訣録』が貼り込まれている。
喜田川季壮尾張部守貞誌,写
江戸時代後期の風俗を説明した『守貞謾稿』より、金魚売の図。金魚の行商は江戸時代の夏の風物詩であった。

Related Works

神谷伝兵衛氏寄贈,Gift of Mr. Kamiya Denbei,東京国立博物館,Tokyo National Museum
瑪瑙を彫り出した金魚の装飾具。中国では、金魚は「魚（yu)」の音が「余」に通じることから、富を象徴する吉祥の魚として好まれる。
青森県の「ねぶた祭」では、金魚型の灯篭「金魚ねぶた」が使われる。
中国・景徳鎮窯,Jingdezhen ware, China,横河民輔氏寄贈,Gift of Dr. Yokogawa Tamisuke,東京国立博物館,Tokyo National Museum
<p>This jar is decorated with eight auspicious symbols with connections to Buddhism.<br /></p>
戸張孤雁　TOHARI Kogan,Woman and Goldfish,watercolor on paper
金魚の柄の洋服を着た女性が描かれている。
歌川国芳筆,By Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861),東京国立博物館,Tokyo National Museum
夏の風俗を金魚を擬人化して描いたシリーズで、９図が確認されている。本図は、そのうち、怪談話を順に披露する「百物語」を題材にしたもの。