Koi fish tattoos are one of the most common found types of Japanese tattoos. Koi fish are highly prized in Japan and are breed to be the most vibrant beautiful fish that their owner can be proud of. So it is no wonder they symbolize this beautiful and colorful fish in their tattoos as well. Koi fish are a bright bold colored carp that are the prized possessions of their owners. Koi tattoos are just as bright and bold and are done in the same beautiful style characteristic of Japanese tattoos. They are often an addition to the Lotus Flower tattoo, another fond Japanese tattoos.So you are thinking of getting yourself a Koi fish tattoo, but do you know the traditional meaning? For the Japanese culture they have long represented power and strength due to their ability to leap their entire body out of the water, to display their beautiful colors to anyone who is around to see. That is another reason why it is quite common to see the Koi fish leaping out of the water or splashing around in a tattoo. Of course because of their bold beautiful color it is no wonder Koi fish tattoos are so popular. The natural beauty of the fish lends itself to be imitated and placed immortalized in tattoos. The bright oranges of the fish also make for a beautiful contrast against the bright blue water they are often portrayed in.
There are many variations of the Koi fish tattoo, like ones that are done in black and white to help represent the ying-yang or a balance of dark and light, that is common in Japanese tattoos. There are also those that are more traditional in color and take their coloration from those of the actual fish and present them in their natural colors of white, red, black, yellow and orange. Either way, it is sure to be a powerful bold statement placed upon your body.
Shiva is a model, artist and photographer whose totem is the raven. She is flat-out amazing. I asked her to pose for this site once I saw her back. I did have to remove 6 other tattoos in Photoshop to get to the essence of what I wanted to show for my project. Flying women have been a lifetime obsession of mine since Catholic grammar school. I was never good enough in grammar school to get a holy card. As an artist, even then, I saw how beautiful they were, so I have spent my life creating my 'holy cards.'
