鯉山
Koi Yama - The Carp That Became A Dragon | The Gion Festival The Koi (“Carp”) float features a Shintō shrine adorned with a wooden carving of a giant carp. Koi Yama’s carp is swimming up carved wooden waves combined with spun hemp, representing a waterfall. This refers to an ancient Japanese legend about a carp that persevered to finally and miraculously ascend a waterfall. Thereupon it transformed into a celestial dragon, and flew off effortlessly into the sky. From this legend, the koi has become a popular folklore symbol in Japan, inspiring us to overcome any daunting odds. A more esoteric tradition symbolizes the culmination of the ultimate challenge: overcoming the suffering tied to our ego clinging. This results in the rising of kundalini energy at the moment of satori, or enlightenment. In addition to their spiritual value, the festival’s sacred statues are centuries old, and artistic masterpieces in their own right.