Kimono

The motif of carp and swirling water that decorates this kimono is an auspicious one. It derives from a Chinese legend in which any fish able to leap the waterfall is transformed into a dragon, the story being a metaphor for achievement and advancement in life. The design is executed with long supplementary wefts, a weaving technique that is unusual in kimono fabric. According to the person who gave this kimono to the V&A, it once belonged to the famous kabuki theatre actor Ichikawa Danjuro IX and may have been worn for performance.