Hi-Tech Tattoo

Japanese tattoos are always a popular choice because you can choose dragons, yin yang, Shinto deities, Buddha, nature, flowers, and even animals. A well-known animal symbol is the Japanese koi tattoo. Koi or Nishikigoi, is a Japanese word, which means brocaded carp. These fish are widely used to decorate the outdoor ponds and water gardens. Also known as the Japanese carp, traditional koi sleeve tattoos are popular because it symbolizes courage, prosperity, and strength. Koi sleeve tattoos come in different colors because koi fish itself has vibrant colors. Each color has its own significance. Depending on your taste and likings, you can choose Japanese koi sleeve tattoos.

Japanese Koi Sleeve Tattoo

The mythology of koi dates back to China and is over 2,000 years old. Since hundreds of years, koi fish are kept as pets for good luck and prosperity. Although koi fish has originated from China, the Japanese have made the symbol famous all over the world. According to their culture, if koi fish is caught and placed on the cutting board to be chopped, it will lie still and wait till the knife cuts it into pieces. It would remain impassive and stare in the face of death. This characteristic is a quality associated with a samurai warrior's courage, strength, power, and energy.

Koi sleeve tattoos inked to swim upstream usually means that you have already overcome difficulties and hurdles in life. Contrary to upstream, downstream means you are still battling against life and trying to overcome all hardships, without giving up. According to traditional Japanese tattoo art, the direction in which the fish swims and its background, collectively projects the meaning behind the tattoo. Just to give you a heads up, don't get a koi tattoo which faces towards your back. If you have ever seen koi sleeve tattoos, it will always face the front. Of course there are exceptions to this practice. The important thing is that the tattoo means something to you, and it really doesn't matter how others might interpret it. Read more about koi fish tattoos and their meaning.

Buddhist Belief: Koi fish represents courage in Buddhism. According to their belief, "humans 'swim' through the 'ocean of suffering' without fear, just like a fish swims through water."

Japanese Legend: An old Japanese legend states, when a koi reaches a point called Dragon Gate on the Yellow River, and it successfully climbs the falls, the koi transforms into a dragon. According to this legend, koi tattoos are a symbol of ambition and progress.

There are about 22 different types of koi fish, and you can take your pick on which fish and color(s) to choose for your koi sleeve tattoos. Majority of koi sleeve tattoos come in fantastic colors and breathtaking patterns. But there are many koi tattoos contrived with black ink and tribal tattoos. Choices vary as per the cost of the koi tattoos and personal taste. Getting colored koi sleeve tattoos can be more expensive than traditional black ink tattoos, however colored tattoo looks absolutely sensational on the skin. So make up your mind accordingly and take some time in finalizing the design, positioning, and colors. Tattoos become a silent prayer for those who incorporate the design from their personal lives. The ideology behind getting koi sleeve tattoos is to show the world who you are and what you have accomplished in life.