伝統

「こいのぼり」が日本の風習として定着したのは江戸時代のことですが、もともとは中国の故事で黄河の急流にある滝を登り切った鯉が竜になることができたという伝説から、男児の出世の象徴となったことに由来します。

今日の日本では５月５日にお祝いされる「端午の節句・こどもの日」にたくさんの「こいのぼり」が青い空を背景に風にたなびく様子が各地で見られます。「こいのぼり」はこどもたちが、健康に、力強く、そして幸せに成長して欲しいという親の願いの象徴なのです。

This tradition was born of a Chinese legend which says that each year, at the third moon in the lunar calendar, during peach blossom season when the Yellow River begins to thaw, the carp would begin their upstream journey from the East China Sea to Longmen, the 'Dragon's Gate'. Here, the Celestial Emperor organised a contest among the carp gathered at the foot of the mighty waterfall, whereby those that succeeded in passing through the gate were transformed into dragons, and those that failed had to return to the sea and try again the following year.

This legend is the origin of Japanese koinobori, the koi carp-shaped windsocks that can be seen billowing in the air on Children's Day, May 5th. Through this symbolic object, parents encourage their children to be strong and valorous, and wish them lifelong happiness, prosperity, joy and good health.