What Does A Koi Fish Represent? The Meaning Behind The World’s Bravest Fish
The koi fish, both its Japanese and “domestic” varieties, is one of the most popular and beloved kinds of fish in the world. People have these beautiful fish in their backyard ponds as well as tattooed on their bodies. But have you ever wondered what these amazing fish represent in traditional Asian culture?
In traditional Asian culture, the koi fish represents good luck, strength, perseverance and bravery. According to legend, koi fish swam up the Yellow River in China and those who made it upstream and past the Dragon’s Gate waterfall were rewarded for their tenacity by being transformed into dragons. Today, koi fish are used to encourage wealth, good luck, and courage.
But not all koi symbolize the same thing. Koi fish represent different things depending on their color, variety and even the direction they’re facing. Let’s go over what a koi fish is, where they come from and what different kinds of koi mean in traditional Asian culture.
If you’re looking to increase your own luck, why not pick up some Koi for your backyard pond or indoor aquarium? If you don’t have a Koi dealer near you, check out my list of the best places to buy Koi online.
History of Koi Fish
Koi are a member of the carp family of fish and are found natively in Central Europe and Asia. Carp were originally used as a wild source of food and were even aqua-cultured in China as far back as the 5th century BC.
Almost 1500 years ago, wild carp began to be selectively bred in captivity to encourage color mutations. These first selectively bred carp would eventually become what we call goldfish today. Centuries later, there are reports of colored carp fish in the private ponds of various Japanese emperors and other noble figures.
Breeding of ornamental, colored carp fish, or koi as we know them today, began in Japan in the early 19th century. This selective breeding gave rise to the first red, white, blue and yellow markings that koi are renown for today.
By the early 20th century, multi-colored koi fish became known outside of Japan after they were shown at an annual exhibition in Tokyo which sparked their popularity. From then on, koi ponds and koi breeding became a hobby and business for fish keepers around the world.
Related Post: What Is The Rarest Koi?
Koi Fish Symbolism
After centuries of being used as a food source, the common carp has taken on new symbolic meaning as the colorful koi fish we all know today. Across the world, people have koi fish tattooed on their bodies and swimming in their ponds in an attempt to bring some of their mythical qualities into their lives.
The legend of the koi fish begins in the Yellow River, the second longest river in China and the sixth longest river in the world. In ancient times, a large school of golden koi were determined to swim all the way up the Yellow River against the current. During this arduous swim these koi fish built up strength and stamina.
At the end of this river is a waterfall, at which most of the koi turned around and let the current take them back down stream. However, the bravest of these koi continued to fight their way against the current and up the waterfall. After hundreds of years of trying, a few of these koi fish made it to the top at which point they were rewarded by being transformed into a dragon, the strongest and most powerful of all creatures.
Today’s koi fish carry with them all the symbolism of bravery and perseverance that those ancient koi earned swimming up an insurmountable waterfall. The color and direction of a koi fish carries with it even more meaning.
Direction
If you see a koi fish depicted in a painting, tattoo or a statue, the direction it’s swimming changes its meaning. To make this symbolism even more complicated, the direction it’s facing has different meanings depending on the context of the person it belongs to.
Downstream
When a koi fish is depicted as swimming downstream, this can have multiple meanings. Often times this can be used to represent someone who doesn’t yet have the strength or the means to overcome life’s obstacles, perhaps due to misfortune or simply being a child.
However, a koi swimming downstream can also be used to represent someone who has already achieved their goals or overcome obstacles. In this instance, the koi doesn’t need to swim upstream anymore because it has already made it past whatever obstacle was in it’s way, such as the Dragon’s Gate waterfall of legend.
An accomplished person represented by a koi swimming downstream is likely older and with nothing left to prove.
Upstream
A koi fish swimming upstream is by far the most common we see depicted in art and literature. This koi fish symbolizes unwavering determination against life’s eternal struggles and obstacles, as represented by the unrelenting counterforce of a stream or river.
A koi swimming upstream can also represent someone who has overcome smaller obstacles and now has the tools and knowledge necessary to continue on battling against life’s struggles.
Color
In traditional Japanese and Chinese cultures, different members of the family are represented by different colored koi fish. Black represents the father, red for mother, blue for oldest son and pink for daughter.
In addition to specific members of a family, different colored koi fish represent different kinds of people or stages of a person’s life.
| Color | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pink | This color represents young females, daughters and femininity in general. |
| Red | Mothers or the female figurehead of a family. It can also represent passion and intense love, bravery and strength. |
| Blue | Blue represents fertility and masculinity, or it can symbolize a family’s son. This color also represents calmness and peace. |
| White | White is seen to represent success or advancement at work. This color is often chosen by someone looking to celebrate success and achievement. |
| Black & White | A black and white koi fish can often represent harmony or a major life transformation. Some claim that the black and white Yin and Yang symbol is actually two koi fish swimming in opposite directions. Black and white koi can also be used as a good luck symbol. |
| Gold | This color represents wealth and prosperity. |
| Yellow | Yellow is often mixed with orange to represent the same things symbolized by gold: wealth and prosperity. |
| Black | Black is a symbol of masculinity and is closely connected with overcoming life’s obstacles or getting past a period of great struggle. |
Koi Fish Varieties
Koi fish might look largely similar but there are actually dozens of different varieties. Some of these varieties are old and some have been bred only within the last century or so.
Of course, this list is just a very small sample. For a more complete list, check out this wikipedia entry.
Kohaku
Members of the Gosanke koi family with a white body and red patches on top. Believed to be one of the oldest varieties of koi fish.
Tancho Sanke
Any koi variety with a single red patch on its head is considered a Tancho Sanke and is named after the Japanese red-crowned crane which also has a red spot on its head.
Bekko
Bekko koi are a red, white or yellow fish with small black spots on its body. In Japanese, the name means “tortoise shell”, and you can see why.
Showa Sanke
The showa sanke is a variety of koi with a black body with red and white markings. The showa is part of the Gosanke family alone with the Kohaku koi featured above.
Butterfly Koi
Butterfly koi come from the breeding of wild longfin river carp with traditional koi. The result is a long elegant fish with long fins that’s actually hardier than regular koi. Some don’t consider these fish technically koi at all.
Related Questions
Is A Koi Fish Swimming Down Bad Luck?
A koi fish swimming down is neither bad luck nor good luck. When a koi fish is swimming down, or downstream, it symbolizes someone who is not yet ready to face the struggles of going “upstream”. However, it can also represent someone who has already faced struggles and moved on with their life.
Why Are Koi Fish So Special?
Koi fish are so special because of their long history of selective breeding as well as their unique coloring. Just like dog and cat shows, koi are judged and win awards for their beauty and elegance. Koi also have special meaning in Japanese and Chinese culture where they symbolize strength and perseverance.
Does A Koi Fish Bring Good Luck?
Koi fish are widely seen as bringing good luck and attracting wealth. In Feng Shui, the koi represents abundance because the Mandarin word for the fish sounds similar to the word for surplus. In Chinese and Japanese culture the koi represents strength in the face of struggle.
What Do Koi Fish Symbolize In Chinese Culture?
In general, fish, including koi, represent wealth and abundance in Chinese culture. Koi in particular are known to represent success in business and school. In Traditional Chinese Buddhism, koi represent bravery and perseverance.
