Koi Fish Tattoos and their Meaning

Koi fish tattoos and their meaning make an exciting read for anyone who is interested in mythology and symbolism. It may help you in knowing the meaning of koi fish in tattoos. To know more about koi fish tattoos and their meaning, read on...
Koi Fish Tattoos and their Meaning
Koi fish tattoos and their meaning can better be explained as the will to struggle on and on, braving the obstacles in the path of success. Koi fish tattoos are better suited for the pioneering individuals who stop at nothing but success. Determined to practice what they believe in, these individuals are courageous enough to brave the unknown and its perils. The following is a brief note on koi fish tattoos and their meanings.

Koi Fish Meaning

When you hear a word, "car", the image formed in your mind is that of a car. Why? Because you know which object is suggested by the concept of a car. But things are not as easy as that, all the time. Imagine you uttering the same word to a man from the 10th century. Try explaining it him. The enormity of the whole concept which is abstracted in a single word, "car", will boggle his mind.

Love, hate and courage etc are the names of our emotions which are abstract. You cannot solidify them as a concept as that of a car, so that others can see, touch and experience it. If we stop using words that are used to represent or convey, abstract concepts (love, hate etc) we won't be able to talk about them. Koi fish tattoos and their meaning helps a person in exhibiting their inner feelings as clearly as you would by using a word to describe a tangible object.

The Japanese overcame the problem of explaining the urge of perseverance in attainment of the goal or the undying commitment to success, irrespective of the obstacles in its path, by choosing the koi fish as a symbol to represent this impulse. Koi fish tattoos is a mode of representing this impulse graphically in japanese tattoo art. The koi fish is famous for its swim against the current of the stream. In adverse conditions, the rest of the fish swim with the current. But not the koi fish! It swims against the current, as if gaining upstream in the face of adversity, is the purpose of lt's life. For this reason they are included in tattoos.

The koi fish don't give up even when a waterfall threatens to block its upstream journey. It swims through the obstacle by jumping across the waterfalls and rapids. For this reason, the vitality and vigour of the koi fish has been a source of inspiration for countless generations. Koi fish tattoos are used to show the strength of character and masculinity.

Koi Fish Tattoo and Meaning

For the Chinese, the koi fish tattoo depicts luck. The direction, in which the koi is depicted as swimming in a tattoo, can alter the koi fish tattoo meaning. The struggle and hardship to be endured are depicted by the koi swimming downwards. If the fish is tattooed as if swimming upward, this koi fish tattoo meaning can be interpreted as, everything is alright and mastered.

It is believed that the koi fish legend has its origin in one of the Chinese legend, "The dragon gate". According to the legend, the koi fish, after topping a waterfall turns into a dragon. For the Chinese a dragon signifies benevolence, good-will and intelligence. Some individuals use chinese dragon tattoos for strength.

"Luck", invisible and intangible, not unlike the international dateline which divides the yesterday and today for man on Earth, divides the failure and success for the same. Koi, the creature of the water which, once, was the cradle and is the birth place of man, is a better way of representing it. Girls prefer using koi fish tattoos for girls in combination with the lotus flower tattoos.

For many people, especially the young all over the globe, tattooing is a way of proclaiming their thoughts. Tribal tattoos in various designs, such as the tribal sun tattoo design, koi fish tattoo designs and zodiac tattoos etc are used. It is also a rebellious way of making a statement about oneself. The information about Koi fish tattoos and their meaning along with the thousands of designs can be obtained from the Internet using different websites as its source.

By Shrinivas Kanade
Published: 10/30/2009
 
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