Koi Tattoos

The koi, or ornamental carp, is a very popular symbol in Japanese tattooing and it's popularity has carried over with Western fans of Japanese-style ink. Like many other elements of Japanese culture, koi have their roots in Chinese culture and were absorbed into the history and myths of Japan many thousand years ago.

koi tattooThe ancestors of these colorful fish were mostly plain brown in color, and were kept in rice paddies to help eat insects and to supplements the farmer's diet. At some point, the occasional carp that wasn't brown or which displayed markings started to be kept and bred for appearances and variations.ves, along with chrysanthemums which are also considered symbolic of strength and dignity.

Starting in the last 17th and early 18th centuries, this selective breeding began producing a fanciful array of colors and some distinctive marking patterns and the attraction of koi spread to Japan. After a major international exhibition of koi in the early 20th century, the tradition of keeping and breeding koi grew in popularity, leading to the fish which are popular with collectors around the world today.

The mythology and symbolism of koi connotes courage, strength and perseverance, especially in the face of adversity. The ancient stories say that only the most determined koi can swim upstream, and if they can leap the waterfalls and go upstream, they will be rewarded by being turned into dragons. These fish are often a considered a sign of good

luck, especially the golden carp.