In folk ceramics, a common motif and its symbolic meaning is the “fish transforming into a dragon.” The pattern depicts a cloud dragon in the sky and a carp in the water. Alternatively, it may show a dragon with the head of a dragon and the body of a carp, or a carp leaping over the Dragon Gate. According to ancient legend, any carp that could leap over the Dragon Gate would transform into a dragon, while those that failed would return with a red mark on their foreheads. Hence, many carp in the Yellow River have red markings on their foreheads, signifying their failure to leap over the Dragon Gate. The motif of a fish leaping over the Dragon Gate symbolizes attaining success, rapid advancement, and a meteoric rise.
