Koi fish - why we love it so much?
Koi fish are a big commitment. Between the pond, the maintenance, and koi's tendency to live a long life, your fish friends will require a lot out of you! But an even bigger commitment is a koi tattoo. Tattoos have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years. Over a third of millennials are now inked. Every year, the tattoo industry makes over $2.3 billion. And with the koi's popularity upsurging in recent decades, it's no surprise that koi tattoos are in such high demand. Tattoos are such a personal and visible way to customize your look. You need to make sure your ink reflects what you want it to. Here's a helpful guide to koi fish tattoos. KNOW YOUR KOI Koi fish have a very long history in Chinese and Japanese culture. They were originally common carp and were later domesticated and bred to produce certain colors. Chinese invaders brought koi to Japan, where the fish flourished. Koi fish are prominent in the work of Japanese tattoo artists because of a long-standing legend of how the fish become dragons. Most of the meaning and symbolism behind the fish stems from this ancient legend. According to Chinese and Japanese myth, there was once a giant school made up of thousands of koi fish swimming up the Yellow River in China. As they swam, they gained strength by pushing against the current. However, on the Yellow River, there is a waterfall. Once the fish reached the waterfall, most turned back and just went with the current because it became too hard. The ones who remained continued to try to reach the top of the waterfall. These koi kept trying for one hundred years. At last, one koi successfully leaped to the top of the waterfall. To reward this dedicated koi, the gods turned it into a beautiful golden dragon. The koi fish is a symbol with extremely deep meaning for those who choose it as part of their body art. If you have been considering getting a tattoo that involves a koi fish, take the time first to learn the meaning associated with them. The traditional significance of a koi fish tattoo can vary depending on the fish's orientation (whether it is going up or down your body) and color. You want to be sure that your koi fish tattoo conveys the desired meaning. Common Koi Fish Tattoos Meanings Perseverance and Power In both Chinese and Japanese tradition, koi fish are known for swimming upstream. No matter the weather conditions, no matter how hard or steep it may be, no matter how many waterfalls - the koi fish will swim upstream. This is viewed as an absolute show of power because they will continue to swim upstream as if on a mission. They cannot be distracted or deterred by anything. Independence It is rare to see a fish swim upstream. When faced with adversity, most fish will "go with the flow" and follow the stream. Koi do not do this. As a result, they are seen as a symbol of non-conformity. The fish is portrayed as a living being who will follow the beat of his own drum no matter how much outside noise he hears. Bravery Old mythology dictates that when a koi fish is taken out of the water, he does not flutter around in the manner most fish do. Instead, he moves very little and accepts anything that is given to him. Koi fish also will not move when placed on a cutting board. This is seen by many people as a sign of absolute bravery in the face of defeat because other fish would put up a fight.