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This black and white tattoo features intricate sketching, which complements the beauty of the design. The winged stork above the koi adds to the uniqueness of the tattoo. Koi fish tattoo designs are a forever favorite among tattoo enthusiasts, and if you are looking for tattoo inspiration, this is the right stop. Koi fish is a popular subject of art, and anyone who has a thing for meaningful and intricate designs can’t deny the gorgeous Koi fish. The darker portion at the wrist could symbolize a difficult period or traumatic experience, with the fish swimming up and away, toward the lighter, more open section at the shoulder.
Koi Fish Tattoos: 45+ Gorgeous Ideas & What They Mean
Depending on how much detail you’d like around your koi tattoo, you may need to find a large piece of your body to house the design. This tattoo design means you are living in harmony with life or seeking to. A koi tattoo swimming downstream means you have already faced the obstacles and are celebrating your success.
Average Service Cost & Standard Price for Getting Koi Fish Tattoo Designs
Some choose a bigger koi, or include it as part of a full-body tattoo. If this is your case, you can add plenty of different elements and koi of all sizes. It also looks good if you want to add some color to your ink. Men usually do a full sleeve with a koi together with an oni or dragon to portray their strength and persistence. Many choose darker colors, even depicting the water in tones of black and grey. The Japanese demon oni is sometimes included in a koi tattoo, as well.
Inspiring Side Hand Tattoo Designs
In this article, you will find some style ideas and advice on how to be sure of your decision. Although it may mean something of its own to you, up to using this design as a matching tattoo. The favorite places for such tattoos are usually the arms, and they are often depicted in a small, neat size. However, such trends do not oblige you to anything because the flight of fancy is always welcome.

When it comes to Koi tattoos you’ll find all sorts of different colors, patterns, scales and technical applications. In Japanese art and tattoo the koi fish is a symbol of masculinity. Flags of the fish are raised on May 5 every year when a new son is born to the household, in the hope they grow strong. You’ll find them in blue, red, yellow, black, motley or bright orange. The yin yang Koi fish tattoos are often black and white, to be as truthful to the yin and yang symbol as possible.
Koi Tattoo With Japanese Lantern

Many people get tattoos because they are symbolic, and what better time to get a tattoo than when you are in need of a reminder that you are strong, no matter what happens? Koi fish are especially common among men as tattoo ideas because the Japanese revere koi fish as being masculine. Koi fish are tattooed with a variety of colors, but some of the most common koi fish tattoos for men are red, black, and blue. Red is a sign of masculine strength, black symbolizes being triumphant, and blue represents overcoming obstacles. Color plays a pivotal role in koi fish tattoos, with each hue carrying its own symbolic significance.
Plenty of people like getting koi tattoos, since their scales look incredible, especially when translated onto a tattoo design. A koi fish paired up with a lotus flower carries plenty of meanings, as both of them are highly regarded in Japanese culture. Even though koi fish that come with lotus flowers are monochrome, the lotus is often colored pink or blue, with yellow tips. This makes the flower pop out without looking too gaudy or flamboyant. Sometimes, a tattoo with only three or two colors looks the best. The yin and yang koi fish tattoos represent both the harmony of the universe and the balance in life.
Black and Red and White Koi Fish and Gold Koi
Simple koi fish tattoos are perfect for those who prefer a minimalist aesthetic. These designs often feature a single fish in a bold color with clean lines and minimal shading. The combination of colors and the direction in which the koi fish is swimming can further enhance the tattoo’s meaning. In the realm of body art, few designs possess the timeless allure and profound symbolism of koi fish tattoos. Originating from Japanese culture, these intricate designs have transcended borders, captivating enthusiasts worldwide. From perseverance to masculinity, these koi fish tattoos each have defined meanings behind their color.
Orange Japanese Koi Fish Tattoo
Blue koi do exist in real life, and they’re quite striking. But you should be careful when selecting the colors for your next tattoo piece. The one koi that managed, after one hundred years, to reach the top of the waterfall was transformed into a dragon by the gods. Koi fish are known for their perseverance through the water by swimming upstream against the current, just as some people metaphorically do with the challenges they face.
In fact, this is a curious stylistic combination of the 3D tattoo style with the watercolor technique. Remember that each color and symbol you add to the koi fish has a different significance, so consider what you want it to represent before you begin. Then, you can mix and match these exclusive motifs to create your one-of-a-kind koi tattoo. This splendid tattoo features two swimming koi fish forming a perfect circle.
Using the latest in medical advancements your tattoo artist will be able to ensure your tattoo will heal perfectly with in seven days. Explore the remarkable journey of Apollo Tattoo Studio as they’ve made waves in the media spotlight. At Apollo, we take pride in being more than just a tattoo studio – we’re a hub of creativity, self-expression, and innovation. Our dedicated team of artists brings together a passion for art and a commitment to delivering the coolest, most unique tattoo experiences. Fish in general symbolize wealth and surplus, and the Chinese believe koi particularly represent good fortune in business and academics.
This particular option is modeled after one of the goldfish bred to have very long and full tail fins. If you happen to keep fancy goldfish, this can be a good tattoo. This can mean that you have succeeded in your goal, such as success in love.
Black Panther’s ‘Nakia’ Lupita Nyong’o Goes ‘Desi’ As She Rocks A Colorful Saree & Opts For An Intricate Henna Tattoo Design On Newly Shaved Head, Fans Dub Her “Rani Lupita” - Koimoi
Black Panther’s ‘Nakia’ Lupita Nyong’o Goes ‘Desi’ As She Rocks A Colorful Saree & Opts For An Intricate Henna Tattoo Design On Newly Shaved Head, Fans Dub Her “Rani Lupita”.
Posted: Tue, 16 May 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
This piece uses an illustrative style that feels almost like a gesture drawing. A lotus flower adds to the composition, while the watercolor style perfectly complements the overall aesthetic of the tattoo. The more realistic style of the design is also a departure from some of the more traditional Japanese koi fish tattoos. The way the shadow of the fish is still visible within the highlight cutting across the image is a lovely detail that demonstrates the time and thought that went into the design. The koi fish, a dazzling symbol of perseverance, strength, and good luck, has captivated cultures for centuries.
So, this is a rather relatable tattoo design that surely speaks to almost every person out there. That is why the lotus Koi fish tattoo design is highly sought after and preferred by those wanting their tattoos to have a deeper meaning. Because of the traditional legend of the Koi fish and its transformation into a golden dragon, both have become the staple when it comes to Koi fish tattoo designs. You can design a small fish swimming up or downstream on your arm. If you want it to be unnoticeable but always present for you, use the inside of your wrist or your forearm. These designs look good in either black and white or in color.
For example, a white, red, and black koi would represent that you’ve had some obstacles, burst through them with confidence and passion, then were rewarded with material success. Wearing a purple koi fish on your arm or any other place on your body provides you with a symbol of inspiration that will lift you when your down. A synopsis of this story is that many koi fishes in the Yellow River in China were swimming against the current and gaining a powerful ability to swim to a waterfall. A traditional Japanese tattoo, also called tebori, is typically done in blue or red surrounded by water and or flowers. The koi fish overcomes challenges and therefore is a symbol of power. The koi fish came to us from Chinese and Japanese cultures and it is more accustomed to us to call it Japanese carp (although koi sounds more mysterious, agree).