koi tattooChinese line art
A koi tattoo is a carp drawn with flowing fins and scales, and it comes from Japanese and Chinese tradition where koi represent perseverance, courage and good fortune. Single koi read as a statement about overcoming difficulty; paired koi traditionally represent a couple or two children.
Size guide
Single koi: 8–15 cm. Pair of koi: 15–25 cm. Full koi with water: 20–30 cm.
Why does a koi have a mustache?
The barbels are a realistic feature of the carp, but in Japanese tattooing they also serve a compositional purpose: they extend the head silhouette and help the fish read as facing forward toward the viewer. Designers vary them widely, so if you want a stylised koi the barbels are often removed or simplified.
How should a koi be oriented?
Traditionally the koi faces forward or upward, which reads as advancing and rising, especially on a forearm or calf where the limb runs vertically. A koi laid horizontally across the forearm is less traditional and often reads as decoration rather than movement. On the ribs a vertical koi follows the torso axis and looks natural.
Frequently asked questions
Where to place a koi tattoo
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