日本には「おしどり夫婦」という言葉がありますが、中国でも同様に夫婦の変わらぬ愛を象徴する鳥である鴛鴦。桃山時代から江戸時代あたりの能装束や小袖に多く見られる紋様です。ちなみに漢字では、雄を鴛、雌を鴦と書き分けます。

In Japan, there is a phrase "おしどり夫婦" (oshidori fuufu) referring to a devoted couple. In Chinese culture as well, the mandarin duck, known as "鴛鴦" (yuānyāng), symbolizes the unchanging love between a married couple. This motif became prevalent in the patterns of Noh costumes and kosode during the Momoyama and Edo periods. Interestingly, in Chinese characters, the male mandarin duck is written as "鴛" (yuan), and the female as "鴦" (yang).

Obi fabrics with this Japanese pattern from the obico selection