Oranda Shishigashira (Oranda Lionhead) — A Longing for Foreign Lands and the Crown of the "Lion" Marking Time.
Among goldfish, the "Oranda Shishigashira" has exceptionally luxurious fins and a crown - like wen on its head.Hearing the name, you might think "Did it come from Holland?", but in fact, it has a history of being transmitted from China via Ryukyu to Nagasaki. Hello, I'm Juane*.
Today, I will talk about the imagination of the people of Edo contained in the name, and the "beauty of maturity" completed over the years.The goldfish in the photo is the Oranda Shishigashira.
Name Given by Adoration for "Distant Things"
In the Edo period, for Japan which was under national isolation, the word "Oranda (Holland)" had a sound symbolizing unseen foreign countries and new and rare things.People who saw this magnificent goldfish that came to Nagasaki crowned it with the name "Oranda" with respect for its gorgeousness that they had never seen before.It is a pure adoration for the unknown world.Although it is not here now, the gaze like a "goal" of people believing in wonderful things that certainly exist somewhere dwells in this name.
Time Spent Together Takes Shape
The greatest charm of the Oranda Shishigashira is the "wen (fleshy growth)" that develops on the head.This is not something that exists from birth, but by cherishing it in a good environment over an appropriate amount of time, it grows splendidly little by little, but surely.It is the "accumulation of memories" of how much time the owner spent and how much care they took to face it, taking shape.
Although a tangible present is happy, just as the "time" spent for it is the greatest treasure, the crown raised splendidly is a proof of trust that the goldfish and the owner have walked together.
Pride and Kindness as a "Lion"
As its name suggests, while wearing dignity like a lion's mane, its swimming is leisurely and elegant. Strength and kindness, and calmness due to accumulated time. The Oranda Shishigashira captured by Jun's lens draws a profound drama in the water with a single swing of its fin.It seems to teach us the pride that life matures, which is not enough with just the word beautiful.
Joy of "Maturing" Life
Looking at the Oranda Shishigashira, I realize that raising a life is not just maintaining it, but accumulating rich time together.Today more than yesterday, tomorrow more than today.We watch over the crown that increases its thickness little by little with pride.
We, Jun * Juane, would like to be artists who can feel the preciousness of the time spent together, like this "beauty of maturity".
Origin of the Name : It was transmitted from China via Ryukyu to Nagasaki during the Kansei era(around 1800).At that time, there was a custom of calling rare imported goods "Oranda-mono (Dutch things)", so this name was attached.Although it is not native to Holland, it is a historical name established as a unique Japanese designation.
Morphological Features(Wen and Fins) : It is a selection and fixation of individuals in which the skin of the head thickened and the "wen (fleshy growth)" developed due to a mutation of the Ryukin.It is characterized by a slightly longer body shape than the Ryukin, and the four - lobed or three - lobed fins develop very long.
Process of Maturity : For the development of the wen, appropriate water temperature management(higher temperature), food rich in protein, and sufficient water quality management are indispensable.It is said to reach the realm of completion over 2 to 3 years after birth, and it is truly a variety whose structural beauty is completed with the "passage of time".
