Chotengan (Celestial Eye) — A Solitary Gaze Looking Up at the Heavens.
There is a goldfish that continues to stare at only one point, the "heavens," quietly but with a strong will at the bottom of the tank.Its name is "Chotengan"(Celestial Eye).Its unique gaze, different from any other goldfish, is filled with deep mystery that you will never forget once you see it.Hello, I'm Juane*.
Today, I would like to talk about the history of being favored by the emperor and the aesthetics of "looking up" that the eyes tell.The goldfish in the photo is Chotengan.
A Single - Minded Light Shown Only to the Emperor
The roots of the Celestial Eye are in Qing Dynasty China.Legend has it that they were raised for generations in deep "mud pots" where light only entered from above, causing their eyes to turn upward in search of faint light.
They were treasured existences that were not allowed to leave the imperial court, as "fish that turn their gaze only to the emperor." That figure, constantly looking up at the heavens(emperor) and staring straight ahead almost clumsily.There, the earnest prayer of life that continued to seek light even in a limited environment is carved as a form.
Courage to Look Up from "Here and Now"
Celestial Eye, which has no dorsal fin and whose field of view is mostly limited to the upper direction.From the perspective of modern society pursuing efficiency such as ease of swimming, its figure may look somewhat precarious and inconvenient.However, they do not seem to lament that "inconvenience".Rather, they make the most of that unique field of view given to them and swim earnestly aiming only for the top.
Instead of being bound by past causes, think about how to make the best use of your current self towards future "goals".The gaze of the Celestial Eye seems to teach us that no matter where we are or what circumstances we are in, we can find our own "heavens" and raise our eyes towards them.
The Beauty of "Independence" Taught by Solitary Modeling
The Celestial Eye has a somewhat aloof, solitary atmosphere rather than swimming in a group with other goldfish.Eyes protruding to the left and right and pointing to the heavens.It seems as if they are staring only at their own inner voice or the ideal they are pursuing, rather than gauging the reaction of others.To be yourself.And to live proudly holding up that individuality.The modeling of the Celestial Eye is a work of art that embodies such a graceful spirit of "independence" in the water.
Quiet Dialogue Looking Up at the Sky
When looking at the Celestial Eye, our gaze naturally turns upward before we know it.What lies beyond what they are staring at ? Just imagining that, I feel like small daily worries disappear beyond the water surface.We, Jun * Juane, want to carefully capture this "gaze looking up at the heavens" to the depths of those transparent eyes.We would like to continue to deliver the purity of life that constantly seeks light even if the times change, putting it into words, pictures, and photos.
Origin and Establishment of Variety : It is said to be a fixed individual that appeared as a mutation of the Telescope Goldfish(Demekin) in China around 1870. It came to Japan in the Meiji era.The historical background that it was initially very rare and was appreciated only within the imperial court forms its mysterious image.
Anatomical Features : The biggest feature, "upward eyes," is a fixed state in which the eyes of the Telescope Goldfish rotated further upward.Also, like the Ranchu, it lacks a dorsal fin, which maximizes the movement and presence of the eyes when viewed from "top view".
Vision and Life : Since the Celestial Eye has an extremely narrow lateral and downward field of view, it relies on its sense of smell or shows a unique gesture of shaking its head when searching for food.This "incomplete vision" conversely gives the viewer a religious and philosophical impression, as if it is constantly communicating with the upper world(heavens).
