Plovers, Rocks, and Waves

The motif of plovers (chidori), flying in a long row over the waves, or looking for food where the sea leaves a line of foam on the sand, has often inspired Japanese artists. This bird is an auspicious symbol associated with longevity because its cry, “chiyo, ” is a homonym for “one thousand generations.” The association of chidori with long life goes back as far as the early 10th century, appearing in the poetry anthology Kokinwakashū, and became a popular motif in various media such as ceramics, textiles, lacquer, and metalwork.