A RARE AND LARGE SOAPSTONE 'DRAGON AND CARP' BOULDER18th/19th centuryCarved in varying levels of relief with a ferocious dragon emerging from swirling waves amidst jagged rockwork and pine trees, with a scaly carp on the reverse, the underside carved with a six-characterzhuanshu seal inscription.16cm (6 1/4in) highProvenance: 十八/十九世紀 壽山石雕魚躍龍門山子Provenance:Acquired in Paris來源：入藏於巴黎The carp orliyu 鯉魚 transforming into a dragonlong 龍 is associated with the passing of the imperial civil service examinations, hence forming the punyutiao longmen 魚跳龍門. According to traditional folklore, carp swim tream in the Yellow River at Hunan towards the Dragon Gate waterfall at Longmen. It is said that the first carp which successfully surpasses the rapids will transform into a fish-dragonyulong 魚龍. Such legend has led to themon saying that, 'a student facing his examinations is like a carp attempting to leap through the Dragon Gate', which bears the metaphor for a scholar who passes the civil service examinations and bes a high official.鯉和鰲為題材的玉雕花插在明清十分盛行，有獨佔鰲頭，鯉躍龍門的寄意。「魚躍龍門」的典故出於《三秦記》：「江海魚集龍門下，登者化龍...」。「龍門」是黃河天險之一，水流湍急，洄游之魚至此，勢必奮力激躍。中國人將此自然現象，比賦寒窗苦讀的士子應試中第，由布衣換錦繡，猶如魚幻成龍。