According to “Gokanjo” (History of the Later Han Dynasty), a lot of fish tried to swim up a waterfall called “Ryuumon” in the rapids of the Yellow River, but only the carp succeeded and thus became dragons. From that, the word “tōryūmon” (literally climbing Ryuumon) means a gateway to success.

“Koinobori,” meaning “carp streamer” in Japanese, are carp-shaped wind socks traditionally flown in Japan to celebrate “Tango no Sekku,” a traditional calendrical event which is now designated a national holiday: Children’s Day. These wind socks are made by drawing carp patterns on paper, cloth or other nonwoven fabric. They are then allowed to flutter in the wind. The custom of displaying koinobori originated from this Chinese tradition and it is to pray for boys’ success in life in Japan. This is why a carp shooting up a waterfall is often painted as a symbol for the Feast of Flags (the Boys’ Festival).

Although Kakushou Kametani is well known as a calligrapher, he painted a couple of carps shooting up a waterfall with the calligraphy in this work. The depiction of the waterfall is very simple, but it is refined. The eyes of the carps are very cute. This work is very interesting.