Fish are an important motif in Chinese mythology. There are various myths involving fish. Chinese mythology refers to those myths found in the historical geographic area of China. The geographic area of "China" is of course a concept which has evolved of changed through history. Fish in Chinese mythology include myths in Chinese and other languages, as transmitted by Han Chinese as well as other officially recognized 56 minority ethnic groups in China. The Chinese word for "fish", yu, is a homophone for "abundance", "plenty", and "affluence" (yu 餘); therefore, fishes are a symbol of wealth. The Chinese dragon is the head of the fish clan. The act of fishing is also an important motif in Chinese mythology and culture.
Cultural significance and symbolism
Yu (fish) Fishes are a symbol of wealth in Chinese culture. The Chinese character for fish is yu (). It is pronounced with a different tone in modern Chinese, 裕 (yù) means "abundance". Alternatively, 餘, meaning "over, more than", is a true homophone, so the common Chinese New Year greeting appears as 年年有魚 or 年年有餘. Due to the homophony, "fish" mythically becomes equated with "abundance".
Fish and humans
A picture of a child with a fish expresses the wishes of having an "abundance of high-ranking sons". Due to their association with wealth, fishes are eaten on Chinese New Year as they expresses the wishes of being affluent year by year or "bring abundance of good wishes throughout the year".
Fish and flowers
The combination of a fish and a lotus-blossom (lian 莲) is used to express the wishes of living in affluence (yu) year after year (lian nian). The combination of a boy with a fish beside a lotus is interpreted as the wish to have "abundance (yu) year in and out (lian)".
Fishes and foretelling
According to ancient Chinese literature, an abundance of fishes in water is believed to foretell a good harvest while the fish swarming up the shoals of rivers is interpreted as a harbinger of civil unrest and rebellion against social order.
Sacrifices and religion
Fishes were used as sacrifice in China; fish-heads (yutou 魚頭) were sacrificed in Central China to the god of riches as they were believed to symbolize the "beginning of wealth" (yutou 餘頭). The fish is part of the 8 Buddhist symbols: they are golden fishes which comes in pairs; they are symbols of fertility and represents salvation from suffering.
Sexuality/ marital bliss
In ancient China, the word yu also meant penis as a secondary meaning, however nowadays, it is the eel which is used instead of fish. A metaphor for sexual intercourse in Chinese is "fish and water come together". A happily married couple is described as having "the pleasures of fish in water" (yúshuǐ zhīhuān 鱼水之欢); therefore pairs of fishes are symbolism of sexual harmony and mutual sexual pleasure. Popular weddings gifts were prints of fishes swimming together. When the fish constellation is visible in sky, it is interpreted that the time of "cloud and rains" (yunyu 云雨) have passed which means that it is no longer the auspicious time for the Emperor to have sexual intercourse.
Jin yu (Goldfish) Jinyu (金鱼) is a homophone for "gold in abundance"; therefore, they are perceived as suitable gifts for wedding. Jinyu is also an homophone of gold (jin 金) and jade (yu 玉), which are both indicators of wealth.
Goldfish and humans
The depictions of goldfish in a pond (tang 塘) is used to express "may gold and jade fill your house" (jinyu mantang 金玉滿堂) to describe the wishes of having a prosperous household. A similar depiction is the combination of goldfish in a pond in the courtyard of a house with a wealthy lady with 2 infants and her attendant which symbolically expresses for wish of having "gold (jin) in abundance (yu) fill the whole hall (tang) of the house".
Goldfish and flowers
When combined with a lotus (he 荷), the goldfish and lotus (jinyu tonghe) combination represents "gold and jade joined together" or "celebrations with gold and jade" (jinyu tonghe)
Goldfish and purse
The combination of a purse and a goldfish is used to express the wishes for having "gold (goldfish) in abundance in a purse."
Sexuality
A pair of gold fishes is a symbol of fertility. A goldfish can also represent the lover of a widow. A goldfish can also represent a man who is supported by a prostitute.