Đông Hồ print “Lý Ngư Vọng Nguyệt” – The Carp Gazing at the Moon

A majestic carp turns toward the full moon among the seaweed: an image of vitality and perseverance.

History and symbolism

The inscription 鯉魚望月 (« Lý ngư vọng nguyệt ») means "the carp contemplates the moon". According to legend, the carp that swims upstream and passes through the Vũ Môn gate transforms into a dragon. The image thus symbolizes effort, ambition, and success in examinations. Associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival, it was also given to children. Here, a sober version in black and orange.

Craftsmanship

It comes from the workshop of Nguyễn Hữu Đạo, son and grandson of master artisans from Đông Hồ. The natural colors are pressed one by one with engraved wooden blocks, on dó paper coated with crushed shells (điệp), the black outline last. Red seal of the artisan. Hand-printed: slight variations from one copy to another.

Decoration & gift idea

Elegant and graphic, it pairs well with a contemporary or Zen interior. Ideal gift for a student or a new beginning.

Đông Hồ print in brief

A Vietnamese heritage nearly five centuries old, the Đông Hồ folk print was born in the village of the same name, in Thuận Thành (Bắc Ninh province). Each image there is entirely handmade, from the drawing and engraving of the blocks to the printing, and its themes – wishes for happiness, scenes of daily life, history, and worship – have made it the traditional image of Têt, the Lunar New Year. In December 2025, UNESCO inscribed this craftsmanship, which is still perpetuated by only a few families, on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

Characteristics

• Format: 27 × 36 cm
• Orientation: Portrait (vertical)
• Technique: woodblock print (wood engraving), hand-printed
• Support: dó paper coated with shell powder (điệp)
• Natural pigments
• Signed with the seal of the artisan Nguyễn Hữu Đạo
• Sold unframed – the framing visible in the lifestyle photos is shown for illustrative purposes only
• Origin: Đông Hồ village, Thuận Thành, Bắc Ninh province, Vietnam