I often hear that China keeps goldfish in an ancient way. They have always been kept in pots, which is considered authentic. So goldfish is also called basin fish in some places. I came to see The Story of the Cinnabar Fish written by Zhang Chou in the Ming Dynasty. I remember that it said, "Cinnabar fish is unique in Wuzhong ... This kind of fish is most suitable for potted plants, and connoisseurs speak highly of it." "A cinnabar fish tank was first burned in Cizhou, and it was also found in Yixing, Hangzhou, but it was always in poor color. Compared with common busybodies, keeping a few fish in an ancient bronze jar can hold two stones, and the system is extremely simple and green. The ancients didn't know what it was used for, but today it is similar to storing cinnabar fish. " I also read the chapter "Animals in a Tank" in the Atlas of Goldfish written by Qu Shannong in Qing Dynasty. The article wrote: "The fish in the pond are solid and easy to raise, but the fish are not bright red when they are near the soil. It is better to use tank animals. The ancient sand cylinder is the top cylinder, followed by the magnetic cylinder. This cylinder with a sharp bottom and a big mouth should be buried in the soil. Only five or six animals can be raised in a tank. If there are few fish, they will eat, which is sustainable and easy to gain weight. When the new tank is not filled with water, wipe it with raw taro. After water injection, the moss will grow alive and will not dry, so as not to damage the scales and wings of the fish. It is appropriate to use an ancient cylinder; Remove the moss from time to time. Too much moss will reduce the color of the fish. In early spring, it will be sunny in the tank, and in summer, it will be half cloudy and half sunny. After beginning of autumn, it will be placed everywhere. In winter, the cylinder will be obliquely buried in sunny places, and at night, grass will be laid on the cylinder mouth to make it cold. There is often one or two fingers of thin ice, so the fish is past the age of disease-free. Fish live by water and live in tanks. Water needs to be changed every other day in summer and autumn, so fish are not depressed and steamed, but easy to grow. If it rains, the water at the bottom of the tank is hot and smelly, and the fish will surface to change the shortness of breath, so it is appropriate to change the water; Or if the fish turns white and enters the water, change the water frequently. If it is changed late, the fish will get hurt. " In the section of "goldfish bowl" in the book "Yuanye", it is described that "if the stone pool method is used, one or two thick cylinders are used side by side as the bottom. Or buried, semi-buried, put the surrounding stones on it, and still use putty to seal the cylinder mouth. If you raise fish in the same way, it's better than turtles in a jar. "
From this point of view, it is true that the method of keeping goldfish in ancient China pays attention to pot culture.
The traditional fish tanks in China are made for goldfish. The fish tank is a goldfish container in ancient China. It contains the beauty of goldfish with its own quality, and the beautiful fish makes the aquarium full of aura. Fish tanks and goldfish, beautiful fish and beautiful utensils complement each other. While appreciating the beauty of goldfish, the ancients in China were also pursuing the perfect unity of beauty, fish and utensils. When the female goldfish carrying the creation, aesthetics and civilization of the Chinese nation danced in the fish basin, the fish basin quietly evolved from a simple fish container into a work of art. When we appreciate the beautiful fish in this beautiful vessel, we already feel that we are not only appreciating the fish, but also appreciating the clear supply of life.
The ancient people in China used stone, pottery, sand, porcelain, wood and other materials to make fish tanks, all of which were very clever in design. Stone pots are carved from natural stones. According to the craftsman's talent, all kinds of peaceful patterns are carved, which are simple and natural. In the royal gardens of the Qing Dynasty, there are many stone pots, which are gorgeous and simple, and the soft fish dance in them, which is both rigid and flexible and natural. In addition, there is a fish tank carved with jade. According to historical records, Song Huizong once carved a fish tank out of white jade in his study to raise red goldfish. At present, jade carving is also used in the antique market to carve a goldfish bowl with a long life and no boundaries. Among them, keeping goldfish has a charming texture, but the exaggerated jade carving goldfish shape and shallow fish tank are not suitable for keeping goldfish after all. The pottery fish pot, commonly known as the earthen pot, is round. It used to be one of the main containers for fish farming in old Beijing. It is also called "Tiger Head Pot" because there are raised tiger head patterns on the outer wall of the pot. Because of water seepage or moisture resistance, it is more suitable for courtyard use. The specifications of ceramic pots are called "sets". The sandy fish tank has a big mouth and a small bottom. They used to be commonly used fish containers in East and South China. The specification of the sand pot is called "none". Stone, ceramic and sandy fish tanks all have a common feature, that is, the inner wall is rough, and the rough inner wall becomes a big fungus bed. Therefore, without the aid of filters, they can purify water, and it is easier to carry water than porcelain pots with smooth inner walls. When the rough inner wall is covered with smooth green moss, the green moss reflects red fish, which is an ideal state for both viewing and maintaining goldfish. Compared with other fish tanks, porcelain fish tanks are more delicate in texture and more gorgeous and exquisite in appearance. According to ceramic technology, many styles of fish pots can be made, either blue and white, pastel or tea powder, with exquisite painting and excellent technology. This is a popular fish tank and home decoration appliance. The specifications of porcelain pots are called "pieces". Wooden fish tanks, commonly known as wooden sea, are generally round or oval, made of cypress, and can be made into suitable sizes according to needs. Muhai is mainly a container for breeding goldfish. Compared with the above-mentioned fish pots, Muhai has the advantages of large volume, light weight, large water capacity, and is not easy to break, so it is more common in Beijing and Tianjin.