"The varieties of goldfish actually reveal our culture. Lions, tigers, dragons, cranes, and so on, are all auspicious creatures that represent specific cultural symbols," He explains. "For instance, the lion symbolizes the strength that can drive out evil spirits, majestic authority and good luck.
"We project these cultural symbols onto the appearance of goldfish, and through selective breeding, we present these diverse goldfish varieties to the world. These are truly works of art crafted by Chinese artisans, belonging uniquely to our own culture."
Contact the writer at xuhaoyu@chinadaily.com.cn