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KOI NEWS: The Great Nishikigoi Giveaway | Post a Message | To the BBS Main Page |
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Posted by JR
on 5/3/2009, 2:21 pm, in reply to "Nishikigoi could only have been created in Japan"
64.12.117.75
Part II
The first thing required of course is the presence of carp! This is a problem as Japan have no indigenous species of carp! And although recent studies on the ancient lake Biwa’s carp has revealed some interesting possible DNA exceptions to this established scientific belief, it is currently accepted that Carp was a phenomena of far away Eurasia, spreading westward into now modern China, modern Iran, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan.
. From there, natural evolution created a few distinct carp- like but non ‘common carp’ species that moved naturally south into tropical Asia and stopped there.
And then beginning 2000 plus years ago, human activity stretched the modern common carp prototype ( a western subspecies) even further west to Far off Korea and eventually Japan.
There is some debate as to whether the original migrants to Japan who crossed the great land bridge that once existed between ancient Japan and what is now modern Korea, had the where-with-all to transport carp, or carp eggs to the new land eventually named ‘Wa’. This might give weight to the scientific debate that suggests the unique DNA of lake Biwa carp is proof that a unique carp did exist in Japan. But then again, DNA testing on koi suggests their core gene pool is soundly based on the western form of Common carp .
At this point the story of import into Japan becomes complicated as both mainland Asia ( China and Korean) traded actively with Japan in both a direct way and through intermediaries of China like the tiny nation of Okinawa ( then called Ryukyu). Much later in the 16th century ( 1543- 1641) the Europeans also arrived ( initially in the form of Portugese sailors) as major traders ( Nanban trade period). And the record shows that the ‘Barbarians’ were restricted to a small harbor area called Nagasaki, to avoid ‘contamination’ of the main territories and their people from foreign influence, religion and direct trade. And as a fascinating side note, a few records talk of the rare golden carp that the foreigners brought to Japan that lived in the waters surrounding Nagasaki. The Danube is also home of a morph of ‘golden carp’ that exists to this day. The same line or just a coincidence? No one knows but it is interesting that these golden carp were associated with the water surrounding the foreigner’s dwellings. And since the Portugese were moving goods from China to Japan, the plot thickens! And might once again re-enforce the source of Japanese carp as China ( the western form of common carp).
And although the internet has spread news of recent DNA testing proving the nishikigoi was a direct descendent of the Western form of common carp ( there is an eastern and western form) we hobbyists know this can’t be perfectly accurate and as cut and dry as the research suggests as Doitsu carp are derived from Austrian Carp ( an Eastern form of common carp). These fish were given by the Germans to the Japanese as a gift from one nation to another. And these fish were bred into the resident populations as well as into Carp due to their reputation for fast growth and hardiness. So at best we might say that the koi tested were from the Western form of common carp but maybe not all koi are from the western form?
The Japanese of course knew carp well by this point in their history as carp was a mainstay source of protein, especially for those away from the sea. It is important to realize here, that although Japan is surrounded by the oceans, the people of Japan live on series of isolated plateaus surrounded by mountain ranges. This is why Japanese are so congregated and relatively walled off internally from other areas. And probably yet another reason for the varied unique art and cultural variations from region to region. And as people were isolated so too were their food carp!
So this is the history of how carp found their way to Japan– many ways !
As for the human culture that spawned the great interest in carp as a symbol and not just a meal, we need to look, not at what was brought into the country by merchants in the way of goods, but what was learned by traveling ‘outside Japan’. The 4th -6th century was a time of very active importation of culture from China, for the Japanese. They of course, had a language ( an Altaic based language related to Mongolian, Korean) and primitive native religions but no written language (earliest 57 AD but not in common use until the 6th century) or refinement of culture. Indeed until the 2nd century they were mostly warring clans of more than 100 ‘states’ until a unification came under the Yamato kings in the 3rd -6th century. China was the center of the Asian universe from the 5th -9th century and could be looked at as the “Rome” of Asia. And it was during this time that the Japanese would live in China for years at a time organizing trade and government relations. And it was the Japanese culture that profited most from this association in that along with goods bought and sold came institutions and profound fundamental cultural influences. Yet this massive influence did not turn the Japanese into Chinese people! Instead the heavy influence of China and it rich culture was absorbed into the framework of Japanese traditions.
The ancient religion of the Japanese ( actually of the Korean tribes that migrated to Japan) is Shintoism. This was ‘ the way of the gods’ and it focuses was/is on ancestors and spirits of nature- a form of creationist religion. But the influence of Buddhism ( from 552 AD on) and it’s often associated Zen inclusions are significant on the Japanese culture, including it’s first religion. The Zen Garden exists because of both religions. And it was in this world of mixed religions in which the serine pond and perfect garden emerges. If trade provided the carp themselves, then religion provided the pond setting for the pampered carp to be displayed in ! And more importantly, a predisposition within the population for acceptance of the colored carp as a natural wonder. It is not my attempt to turn this article into a paper of comparative religions! But it is a mixture of Zen, a loose religion that does not base itself in written text, that matches well with the clans’ religion of Shintoism and it’s spiritual appreciation of nature . Both are without written scripture of any kind or any single doctrine , both are based in quite contemplation at a stationary place and often that stationary place is in a temple or shrine in a garden setting - and both are in connection with nature or a peaceful place.
Eventually a country made rich from another finds a national need for self identity. This lead to a nationalist movement to re-discovery and re-establish among other things, Shintoism. And to lessen influences of Buddhism and Confuscism as the national religions. It is hardly imaginable that carp, in the modern and unique form of nishikigoi, would have expanded beyond the mountain farms if not for the establishment of temples and garden ponds centuries before. And finally, from a practical stand point, it was these ponds in temples , castles, palaces and food ponds that allowed for the collection and display of first, carp and eventually a collection of natural mutations.
China also represented wealth and success. And this also worked it’s way into the Japanese cultural psyche which, until then, was primarily about securing land and ‘others’ rice fields. As religion and wealth grew, so did gardens as art forms , along with other high art forms within the garden. The principles of apprenticeship/ master program, as in Europe, became common in the schools of art. And at one point, the capital city of Kyoto ( Mount Hiei) housed many schools of artistic training from the martial arts to fine calligraphy. Indeed, these groups at one point became part of the upper class as Art was the center of Japanese culture. The pursuit of excellence arises from this system. Another key element of support in a 200 year breeding program. This is one reason why and how koi easily became living art and not just a successful breeding program. There is a word in Japanese ,’ Miyabi’ which means, an appreciation of fine things of beauty. No where else could this be seen more clearly than in the creation of the 14 nishikigoi varieties.
Wealth in China, Korea and Japan is also responsible for a golden age of garden construction and elevation of temples and gardens as public symbols of national success , established religion and pious pursuit. In Japan, a place to PUT nishikigoi when they arrive as well as a setting for isolating mutant gene pools is another ‘first’ step in the ‘ long’ journey ( To be a little bit ‘ Taoist ‘ myself! )
So now we have the subject ( carp ) and the place for distribution of product ( garden ponds) and a culture that admires the subject ( carp as a mythical symbol) and admiration for national cultural art ( nishikigoi, a unique product of Japan) and a philosophy of excellence ( a competition to improve the varieties).
The very word ‘Gosanke’ is based in the history of the “Big Three” meaning the 3 families or heirs that could continue the line of the first Shogun. This is the history of Japan and as a result, Japan is the only place that the lowly carp could become the colorful nishikigoi. In this sense, Japan is the only place the ambitious carp actually did become the admired and successful scaled dragon. - JR
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