In Miao Fu’s painting, a huge carp shakes its head and moves its tail in the water, relaxed and pleased with itself, looking down on the smaller fish. The carp is considered the dragon reborn in Chinese folk stories, and brings happiness and wealth to people. The painter makes this carp the king of the water. In fact, he is praising the emperor’s nobility and generosity in a subtle way. What more would one expect of a court painter?
adj. 微妙的,敏感的,精细的,狡诈的,不明显的