Koi Fish Tattoo Designs

Tattoos are a form of body art, where designs and patterns are made by inserting ink into the deeper layers of skin. Like dragon tattoos, koi fish designs have an universal appeal among tattoo lovers for both, their exquisite beauty and charm, along with their association with many Chinese and Japanese legends and mythologies. In Chinese and Japanese legends, koi fish are the mysterious creatures who would transform into the mighty dragons if able to reach the top of the 'Dragon Gate Fall'. In Buddhism, koi fish symbolize courage and bravery with which they embark on their journey through the ocean. This highlights the importance of being courageous in the journey of life. The mystic association coupled with elaborate designs and bright shimmering colors have made this traditional tattoo a favorite in the entire world.

Koi Fish Symbolism
Popularly, these tattoos are associated with good luck and perseverance, the basic qualities required for a successful life. The story of koi fish swimming upstream against the current of water to reach the top of the dragon gate waterfall, can be interpreted as the struggle against the odds of life to reach the desired goal. So, they represent ambition and aspiration, which can be achieved only after overcoming the obstacles of life.

In Japanese culture, koi fish also symbolize love along with good fortune. The act of swimming upstream against the current of water depicts strength in adversity. In Chinese culture, koi fish are the symbol of good luck, masculinity and strength. It is a well-known fact that koi fish are very energetic and have the innate ability to adjust to any kind of climate and water conditions, for which they are supposed to symbolize strength and determination.

Koi Fish Tattoo Art
Koi fish are one of the most energetic fish, and this is the fact, for which they are usually depicted in bright shades with lots of movement. Their beauty and bright colors have always fascinated artists. The traditional color scheme are black and white. These traditional colors are quite popular throughout the world, but the use of the bright hues can further enhance the beauty of this tattoo. Another most widely used color for making koi fish design is golden yellow. Even the red and blue koi fish tattoos look great. However, the choice of color generally depends on the skin tone and complexion of an individual. As an example, those with yellowish skin tone can go for yellow, gold or red colored tattoos, while black, red and blue colors would look beautiful on a pinkish fair complexion.

As far as the location of this tattoo is concerned, the most popular places are back and shoulder. But, it can also be used to adorn arms, chest, ribs and shoulder. Its popularity is also growing as a latest tattoo design for girls. It looks simply remarkable as tattoos for wrist, feet and shoulder blades, especially in girls.

These designs can vary from a solitary fish to one with exotic backgrounds like splashing or flowing water. Floral backgrounds like floating lotus flowers or cherry blossoms can also add an exotic touch to these tattoos. Tattoos depicting the journey and transformation of koi fish into dragons at the mouth of the dragon gate are especially popular among men, who look for masculine tattoos symbolizing strength and courage. In addition to these, a lot of designs can be created by portraying different movements accompanied by the rich colors and elements of Japanese art. They can also be used as zodiac tattoos, especially the Pisces zodiac tattoo. For this, the symbolic curved lines of the Pisces zodiac tattoo are simply replaced by two koi fish.

Such designs are great for both men and women, who are looking for a symbol of good fortune, abundance and strength. But make sure that you choose the right color, design and position, along with a unique background to make it a tattoo that can be cherished for a long time.