Silken birds nest in the fragrance of lotuses, brocaded carp circle the shadow of the isle. Ornamental carp …
Silken birds nest in the fragrance of lotuses, brocaded carp circle the shadow of the isle.
Ornamental carp originated in China. In Ting Shi by Yue Ke, it is recorded: "Today, there are fish keepers in the capital who can turn fish golden, crucian carp being the finest, carp coming second. Wealthy nobles would often carve stone pools and place them by windows and eaves for viewing pleasure." The golden crucian carp mentioned here is the ancestor of today's goldfish, while the golden carp is the ancestor of ornamental carp. This shows that the history of ornamental carp farming in China dates back to the Song dynasty.