Koi fish Tattoo Designs, Ideas and Pictures

Koi fish are a very popular symbol in Japan. Koi is the Japanese word for carp, but these are not just your ordinary carp – they are koi fish. Koi fish symbolize good luck in the Japanese culture, and are some of the most popular Japanese tattoo designs. Koi can also symbolize strength, perseverance, advancement, and aspiration. A koi can be a symbol for “going against the flow”. A koi is also the symbol for bravery, as it is known to not flop around when caught like other fish do.

The koi fish must swim many miles upstream in order to spawn their young and continue their species. There is a legend surrounding the koi that states if one of these mythical fish manages to traverse the upstream path, and then climbs the falls of the Dragon Gate on the Yellow River, it will magically become a dragon.

There are actually 14 different types of koi fish, which are separated by their color and markings. As you can see, there are many options for some great koi fish tattoo designs.

Here are the 14 different types of koi fish:

• Kohaku – The most common type of koi, it is white with red markings.
• Taisho Sanke – White koi with both red and black markings.
• Bekko – Red, yellow, or white koi with black markings.
• Utsurimono – The opposite of the Bekko, a black koi with red, yellow, or white markings.
• Showa – Black koi with red or white markings.
• Asagi – Blue or grey koi with red markings on their sides, belly, and fins.
• Shusui – Very similar to the Asagi, but they only have scales along their dorsal and lateral lines.
• Koromo – White koi with a robed pattern outlined in a darker color such as blue or black.
• Tacho – Named after the national bird of Japan, these koi have a single red spot on their forehead.
• Kinginrin – Any koi that has more than 20 sparkling scales.
• Kawarimono – The name for all koi that are non-metallic.
• Hikarimono – A single color metallic koi.
• Hikari-Utsurimono – Metallic koi with the same markings that an Utsurimono koi has.
• Hikarimoyo-Mono – Metallic koi that have more than one color, but do not have the Utsurimono and Showa patterns.

Koi tattoos can be worn by anyone who wants to symbolize the struggle we all go through as we swim through life’s trials and hardships. There are versions of the koi fish tattoo designs that should the mythic creature’s transformation from fish to dragon at the Dragon Gate.

Women who are considering getting a koi tattoo should avoid using the koi as a lower back tattoo. The meaning of the koi is about the struggle on makes through life, and should not be used as a sexy decoration as most lower back tattoos are. The koi does look great as a feet, wrist, or shoulder tattoo on women.

Koi tattoo designs can be combined with water, bamboo, the sun, the moon, and flowers to make for a great tattoo. The koi tattoo is a very symbolic tattoo, and one that you will surely treasure for a lifetime.

If you are seriously considering getting a tattoo, we suggest you take a look at a site such as Chopper Tattoo. They have the largest selection of high quality, award winning tattoo designs that you can print out and bring to your local tattoo artist. Here is a small gallery of pictures of Koi tattoo designs:

See More Koi Tattoo Designs at Chopper Tattoo.