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Koi (carp)

Japan’s major pet fish.

Koi is called the king of river fish and has been long regarded as a joyful fish. Samurais in Muromachi Period adored the bravery Kois possess.

The Huang Ho (Yellow River) flowing across the Chinese continent. In order to reach its source, a carp must attempt an assent towards a valley of rapids called Longmen through the Jishishan Mountain, which stands deep in the Kunlun Mountains. A legend says that if a carp successfully swims up the Longmen Falls (Dragon’s Gate), it can transform into a dragon. Because of the legend, the carps became a symbol of human’s success in life.

* Higoi (a red carp)
A tattoo of a red carp swimming in water, with bubbles coming out of its mouth.

* Magoi (a black carp)
A tattoo of a black carp jumping out of the water.

* Nishikigoi (a varicolored carp)
After the Meiji Period (1868 - ) repeated cross breeding of the Higoi created the Nishikigoi in Japan.
Goldfish in China are bread to create strange shaped fish. In contrast, in Japan people concentrated on retaining carp’s streamline shape or refining it.
This illustrates the difference in Chinese and Japanese nationalities.


a better koi: [link]
longmen falls(carp turning dragon): [link]
ryuu(chinese dragon): [link]
tora(tiger): [link]
fu dog: [link]
ying-yang koi: [link]
peonys: [link]
usagi: [link]