When choosing a particular Koi fish tattoo design, it should stand for its relationship with the self-reflection that you want to express. In this case, it’s about you and your outlook on life. The Koi fish was originally dark greyish-brown carps that were later bred to come in a variety of colors. Over time, it resulted in different colors, patterns, and arrangement of scales. There’s more to the Koi fish than just a colorful and symbolic sea creature. This mythical creature has been a trendy tattoo design for years, and it’s a continuous desired symbol.
Why A Koi Fish Tattoo?
Both the Chinese and Japanese have given the Carp (Koi) fish the utmost respect as it signifies numerous admirable qualities. Historically, the Koi fish is the essence of bravery and power. So, having koi fish tattoos or even if you’re just planning to get one depicts your determination to be victorious in setting high goals.
Koi fish tattoos are suitable for those who successfully battled life-threatening conditions such as accidents or disease. Perhaps, those who fought their way to win the heart of someone important to them. After all, it’s about overcoming impossible odds.
The Koi Fish is associated with.
- Strength
- Love
- Ambition
- Prosperity
- Tenacity
- Masculinity
- Ability to prevail over adversities
- Life-long good fortune.
Koi’s History And Association With Good Luck
Before the fish flourished in Japan, back at its history in the Chinese tradition, there was an ancient legend. The story was about how one Koi fish transformed into a dragon after transcending a high waterfall. Among the hundreds that tried, it was the only one that victoriously reached the Dragon’s gate. The legend became an inspirational body art or as a symbolic art in general. It entails the courage and perseverance to go against the impossible and how rewarding it is to overcome obstacles.
What Each Color Represents
The variety of colors does more than just helping tattoo artists come up with creative design ideas. Whether you choose bright hues with lots of movement or adding other patterns, it all interprets a valuable, rather spiritual sense. You can be choosing the original black and white. And, or black and white with a few bright shades to further enhance the beauty of the tattoo. Whichever you choose as your body art, it has significance associated with each style.
- Red – Much recognized as a matriarchal koi, the red represents deep emotions or strong feelings of love. The red with shades of orange is the symbol of the mother while the red with pink signifies the daughter.
- Black – It is a mark of a patriarchal role as well as symbolizing rebirth from overcoming bad luck or difficulties. It is also a symbol for the head of the family, which is the father.
- Blue – Along with white, it’s the symbolic shade of peace, calmness, and tranquility. It’s also a hue for reproduction and family. And since the blue is the male color, it also represents a family’s son.
- White – Now, this is something different from the description of “red.” A white Koi with a red mark on its head is a symbol of success. On the other hand, a white koi with distinctive red marks around its lips is symbolizing endurance in marriage or romantic relationships.
- Gold or Yellow – It represents wellbeing in business, grandeur, glitz, and glamor.
Choosing The Right Koi Color Pattern For Your Skin Type
It’s exciting to choose your own Koi design. Part of what you have to envision is the Koi tattoo’s pigment scheme against your skin tone. They have to be the matching hues to make them come to life on any skin. However, the question is will it look best—on yours? Perhaps, many overlook this quintessential necessity.
Choosing the right colors is the most important factor on top of your tattoo’s orientation and placement. To those people coveting ink, tattooing pale skin is different than tattooing dark skin or fair skin. Why does it matter? It’s important to consider your skin’s unique take on the ink because each shade reacts uniquely to each skin tone. Moreover, the pigment’s versatility and how long it stays on your skin.
Important Rule To Remember: Not all shades significantly darker or lighter than your skin tone would show best. Melanin plays an important role in how the shades would look like with your undertone. Red and violet pigments complement fair- skin well. While greens, oranges, and bright blues look great on the medium or tanned skin. The white ink also looks great on fair skin.
Take into consideration the versatility of the pigments; If you are not a tattoo nerd, this is probably a surprise for you. In an entire spectrum, a number of shades can match an overall look. The the most versatile hues are the gray, blue and black. Koi fish tattoo designs call for vibrancy, muted shades are great if you want color but dodging from vivid shades.
Why is this important before getting your Koi tattoo or any tattoo in general? There are cases wherein you would realize you want to change a little on your Koi tattoo after several years. For the most part, you may like to update the design that calls for a different shade.
The vivid pigments, especially warm tones like orange, yellow, and green are resistant to laser tattoo removal. You might as well pick the pigments that you won’t be too concerned if they fade over time. White, obviously, the safest shade to choose and yet, requires the most frequent touchups.
The Significance Of The Koi Fish’s Orientation
Whether it is solitary, a pair positioned in different directions, or many Koi fish with exotic backgrounds. Whatever the Koi’s orientation and behavior are it is meant to convey your story, YOU. Thus, it’s very important that your Koi tattoo expresses your desired meaning.
Koi Fish With Cherry Blossoms
An undeniably beautiful combination of two elements. The cherry blossoms symbolize the beauty and the fragility of life. Adding cherry blossoms on your Koi tattoo represent positivity in life. It’s telling you to be independent, and appreciate all sides of life, both the beautiful and the ugly.
The significance of both the Koi and cherry blossoms was, then, expressed in paintings. You can put a story behind your Koi tattoo by any complementing details of your choice. Whichever you choose to further enhance the beauty of this tattoo, learn the meaning associated with each style first.
Most recommended: As a back tattoo right above the butt cheeks, especially for women. It also looks feminine if tattooed on the chest area.
Swimming Koi Fish Upstream
It means you are currently battling against life’s obstacles and have the will-power to triumph over it. Or when you have succeeded in overcoming whatever struggle that was and gained the strength to face life’s challenges.
Most recommended: Placement for a Koi fish tattoo swimming upstream is pretty much versatile. It is commonly done as a sleeve tattoo, back, hips and thigh for women.
Swimming Koi Fish Downstream
The downstream could mean two things. The first one, you do not have the strength to go against your problems just yet, but is working on it. Second, you’ve already prevailed over your life’s challenges and no longer need to fight.
Most recommended: Just like the koi fish swimming upstream, the koi fish swimming in the opposite direction can be tattooed almost anywhere on the body in any size. Moreover, the lower leg is its perfect spot.
Swimming Koi Fish In Opposite Directions
Identical to the zodiac sign of Pisces. Originally, the Yin-yang symbolizes a man and a woman swimming together in opposite directions, offsetting each other in harmony. The concept is an embodiment of creation of a perfect balance of all the dueling sides of things. This tattoo design is perhaps the most relatable and fits well in reality of modern life.
Most recommended: An all-time favorite Koi tattoo design, mostly, by Pisceans. This tattoo design is perhaps the most relatable and fits well in reality of modern life. The upper arm remains its perfect place.
Koi Swimming Up A Waterfall
The koi fish leaping over the waterfall can easily be recognized as a symbol of strong will to try and never give up until success is within reach. It is a recommended tattoo design for entrepreneurs, adventurers, survivors of a deadly illness, and athletes.
Most recommended: It depends on your desired perspective. From a horizontal vantage point, it’s recommended on the triceps, oblique (rib cage,) upper thigh. In case, your peripheral is on the side, the thighs, hips, and oblique are the best.
Koi Fish With Samurais
There are many ways to create an elaborative Koi design. The combination of a Samurai and Koi is considered to be the best for men as it holds a high symbolism. It signifies masculinity, honor, and self-discipline. The Samurai can also represent your feeling of death and the fragility of life.
Most recommended: Traditionally worn as a full-back or full-sleeve tattoo, and are still the best spots to have them tattooed.
Koi Fish With Lotus Flowers
Lotus flowers hold an enormous symbolic weight in many cultures, even considered as sacred. Mainly as a symbol of rebirth. Incorporating Lotus flowers on your Koi tattoo defines your ability to grow in the mud, rise from the darkness and turn into a positive being.
Most recommended: It looks best tattooed on the back, half-sleeve arm, and even on the lower leg.
Koi Fish With Water Waves
Waves are pretty prevalent in Japanese art, including their tattoo art as a symbol of power and destruction. Regardless of the strength of the waves, when combined with koi, it expresses determination to withstand and prevail the harshness of life.
Most recommended: They look really well on the inner arm bicep for men as well as on the lower stomach for women. Alternatively, placing the Koi tattoo with water waves on the leg area looks equally seductive.
Koi Fish With Dragons
Traits attributed to dragons are wisdom, wealth, and strength. And with the Koi fish symbolizing strong will and perseverance, the presence of the two as a tattoo signifies the desire to protect and serve.
Most recommended: The strong symbol might be the best full-sleeve and, or full-back tattoo for both men and women. Smaller versions look great on the wrist, back of the neck and feet too.
Koi Fish With Geishas
The Koi tattoo with Geisha is a very detailed design that is likely to cover more space on the body. Although it holds the meaning of exotic grace, mystery, and transience of life, it’s a trendy tattoo design among men. Portrayed in Kimonos, with branches in the background, they represent fertility, which is why often associated with the color red. It’s not a mainstream tattoo design incorporated with the Koi and yet, a highly popular both in Asia and western countries.
An important note on scale and placement. The koi fish with Geisha is a perfect design to be tattooed on the back and sleeve for men. The oblique is also a beautiful spot for it on women.
Where Your Koi Tattoo Fits The Best
Choosing where you want it tattooed relies on your purpose. Do you want it to catch people’s eyes or do you prefer it hidden? The placement of the Koi tattoo also matter. The shoulder blades, upper arm or sleeves, and the back are the most common parts of the body for Koi tattoos.
Nowadays, Koi tattoos suggested being placed elsewhere besides the back and shoulder. Surprisingly, the Koi tattoos are not only popularly tattooed on the lower arm and ribs, but also on the lower legs, especially for men. The chest, torso, and wrists are also cool new spots for Koi tattoos on men.
While the ladies often get their tattoos where it would give off a sexy vibe. Among the desired and recommended spots for Koi tattoos on women are on the hips, thighs, and butt cheeks. Placing a Koi tattoo just below the breast also look sexy.
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