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The meaning of the Koi carp tattoo

Carp occupies an important place in Eastern philosophy and especially in the cultures of countries such as China and Japan. For example, in China, Carp is the emperor among the fish.

There is a famous legend in which a carp that can cope with the strong current of the yellow river and get to the Dragon's Gate will turn into a dragon.

Thus, this creature is not only the king of all fish, but also a kind of symbol for people who find themselves in a difficult life situation, who need to resist circumstances.

The meaning of the koi carp tattoo

The legend, in turn, is metaphorical - it symbolizes the diligence that will help you achieve unprecedented heights with hard work. In a tattoo, this process can be expressed by depicting a carp surrounded by water - swimming against the stream. In this case, the meaning of the Japanese carp tattoo is purposefulness, constant process of achieving results.

In Buddhism, carp is endowed with the ability to bring good luck and longevity.

Sometimes you can find a tattoo depicting two fish. This is a sign of harmony in the relationship between lovers.

Tattoos depicting the Japanese decorative Koi carp, which have a surprisingly variegated color and are specially bred, are endowed with a special aesthetics.

Koi Carp Tattoo Placements

From an artistic point of view, carp is an ideal picture that combines a plot, a lot of saturated colors, clarity, and beauty of patterns. Such a decoration will look perfect on both the body of a man and a woman, and despite the diminutiveness of the carp, such a tattoo is usually done on large areas of the body.

A back tattoo would be a great choice! And the reason lies not only in the brilliance of the picture itself, but also partly in the meaning - big fish = great luck. If you are interested in other symbols of Chinese culture, I advise you to read about the Yin Yang tattoo.

By tradition, at the end there are some of the best photos and sketches of carp tattoos.

Photo of a tattooed rock on a calf

Photo of a daddy carp on his hands

Photo of a daddy carp on his hands