Table of Contents
What does the koi fish symbolize represent in Japanese art?
In Japan, koi symbolizes many good qualities. Known to swim against the current and overcome great obstacles (as mentioned in an old saying described below), koi symbolize strength, courage, patience, and success through perseverance.
What is so special about Japanese koi fish?
Koi are a type of carp, a common fish that can be found all over the world, but what makes Koi so special is their coloring and lineage. There are regular competitions to name the top koi and just like prized dog breeds, Japanese people take koi breeding very seriously.
What is a Muji koi?

Muji means plain ground, or simply “plain” in Japanese. In koi terms, it refers to koi with a single color, such as Chagoi, Soragoi, Benigoi, Karashi, Karasu, Midorigoi and Kigoi.
How do you identify Japanese koi fish?
Koi will be black with orange, white or yellow. Utsuri means reflections in Japanese. The Utsuri should have inverted areas of each color. The Utsuri should have a consistent offset pattern of it’s colors with always having black on the head.
Are all koi Japanese?
Koi are a variety of the common carp, Cyprinus carpio. Contrary to belief, Koi are not indigenous to Japan. They are believed to originate from eastern Asia, in the Black, Caspian, Aral Seas and China. The earliest written records of Koi were found in China.

Is a koi fish tattoo cultural appropriation?
Koi fish are popular in tattoos, but they also hold meaning in Japanese culture. Add to that the deep history of traditional Japanese tattooing, which has its own set of rules, getting a koi fish tattoo without that understanding can be seen as appropriation.
What do 2 koi fish represent?
typically shown swimming alongside one another, two koi fish represent the duality of life and the balance of opposing life forces. These two koi fish are sometimes portrayed in the yin and yang configuration, representing the harmony between opposites.
What does Tosai koi mean?
A tosai koi is a koi that was born in the same fiscal year and thus is only 1 year old. This means Jumbo tosai and small tosai koi are the same, except one is bigger and can be well beyond 10 inches(25 cm). When you buy a tosai koi, you are able to watch how big it grows in your pond!
What is a Shiro Muji koi?
Shiro Muji are non-metallic solid white koi. Shiro Muji differ from Platinum Ogon. Shiro Muji are a flat, matte white, as opposed to the bright, metallic white seen in Platinum Ogon. Shiro Muji are a product of Kohaku spawn, where the red pattern is completely absent.
What are the three varieties of koi?
The term “Gosanke” in the koi world refers to the three main varieties: Kohaku, Taisho Sanshoku (Sanke) and Showa Sanshoku (Showa). Although there are more than 100 varieties of koi, these three varieties stand apart from the others for their excellence, perfection and popularity.
What is the rarest type of koi?
1. Ki Utsuri. Ki Utsuri are a variety of black koi fish with yellow splotches all over their bodies. They are members of the Utsurimono family and are considered among the rarest of koi varieties.
Which way should koi tattoos face?
Which way should a koi fish tattoo face? Koi Fish Tattoo Meaning Swimming Upstream: When a koi fish is swimming upstream in a tattoo, it can refer to the story of the koi and therefore means perseverance. A koi tattoo swimming upstream means you are facing challenges head-on, ready to fight.
How many koi fish is lucky in painting?
Because the Chinese number eight 八 (ba) sounds like 發 (fa), which means wealth, fortune, and prosperity. While in Japan, Koi fish art home decoration is prominent to have seven fish. As Japanese people regard seven (7) as their lucky number due to their Buddhist traditions.
What is Tosai and Nisai?
tosai (toe-say) – less than one year old -OR- has potential without age indication -OR- has potential and less than one year old. issai (ees-say) – one summer old. nisai (nee-say) – two summers old. sansai (sun-say) – three summers old.
What is sansai koi?
Sansai – (SAHN sigh) Over two, and up to three years old – referring to koi age.
Are there black koi fish?
Black Koi Fish also called the Karasu Koi Fish (Karasu meaning “crow” in Japanese), has a black body and fins, and can have either an orange or white stomach. It is one of the older species of Koi Fish. Black Koi Fish or Karasu Koi Fish are said to bring luck to the pond, so bid away, and bring some luck to your pond!