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Mandarin Duck is a waterfowl of the family, Anatidae distributed throughout Siberia, China, Korea and Japan. During mating seasons, the drake puts on beautiful orange fan-shaped wings, and the hen is plainer spotted grey.
The Mandarin Ducks are called 'Oshidori' in Japanese and in the written language is composed of two characters representing the drake (en) and the hen (-ou).
Since Mandarin ducks are often witnessed in pairs, they were considered as symbols of faithfulness and martial harmony from the ancient time in China and Japan. Even when one of them died, it was believed that the mate would not look for another companion. Modern researches suggest that in fact, the ducks regularly change mates, but the romantic myth is still alive.
The history of Mandarin ducks as design motifs are also very old. In Japan, they already appear as pairs in the treasures of Shosoin (storehouse for imperial treasures) from Nara period (710-794).
By the Edo period, because of their happy marital implication the Mandarin ducks came to be popular motifs on bridal kimonos and night garments.
Happily married couples are called 'a pair of Mandarin Ducks' (oshidori-fufu) in Japanese. |
