Koi Fish Color Meaning: An Introduction to Koi Symbolism
Shopping Product ReviewsThere is no person who can deny that Koi fish are beautiful. They provide a welcome addition to your landscaping and the beauty of the fish is mostly determined by their color. What you may not realize is that there are significant differences in the meaning of Koi fish color. The patterns can also help determine the suitability of the fish. The color of the fish and the pattern and orientation of the scale do a lot in determining the value of the fish. The more color the fish has, the higher the price will be in most circumstances. Most of the fish have similar Koi fish color meanings. They range from good relationships to wealth in one form or another.
While many people will choose the Koi for the meaning of the Koi color, there are those who choose the fish solely for the beauty that they can add to their Koi pond.
The meaning of the color of the Yamabuki Koi fish, or gold fish, is representative of prosperity and, obviously, gold. Whether the owners of these beautiful goldfish are sending a message that they have achieved such wealth or hoping that the fish will bring a winning lottery ticket to their future is a mystery. It all depends on personal choice. Don’t choose a Yamabuki that appears too yellow. This type of Koi can develop red spots on the head. Gold/yellow Koi are popular with people with ponds that tend to be poorly filtered.
The Ogon are grey/platinum in color and are also a representation of the fulfillment of wealth. This wealth is specifically achieved by success in business. This can be the hope of a successful business or the success that has already been achieved. The ogon Koi are always metallic and easy to see in green or clear ponds. They are singular in color but always metallic. The choice of color will depend on the meaning of the color of the Koi fish you are looking for or what you want to add to your pond.
The mysterious and striking black and white fish is called Kumonryu. This is the name of the transformation dragon in Japan. The jet black resembles billowing clouds against a pure white sky. This scaleless variety of Koi changes pattern throughout the year. In the winter they are mainly black and white appears in the spring and summer.
Ochiba Koi are light blue/grey in color with possible copper, yellow or bronze highlights. Some will say that they look like autumn leaves floating in the water of your pond. The literal translation is “fallen leaves”. This is a very large Koi and ranges up to 27-29 inches in length.
Karasugoi are solid black in color. When you start your shopping expedition for a karasugoi, be sure to choose one that is deep black in color and not gray. Examine the fish for any scales or scars. Both will distract from the Koi’s appearance. The translation of karasugoi is “the raven” or black without white.
Solid, non-metallic yellows are called kigoi. The most valuable kigoi have very red eyes, which gives them a rather creepy appearance.
The Goshiki Koi are a rude of the taisho sonshoku and the asagi. This is theory and has not been firmly determined. They used to be included with the Koi kawarimono. The consistency of recent production has earned them a label of their own. They have red markings similar to Kohaku’s but not judged as strongly. There may be scales present on the red markings. The mesh will be strictly on target.
Bekko Koi can be red, white, or yellow. There are also black markings on his body that add to his attractiveness. The literal translation of Bekko is tortoiseshell. Again, it must be said that colors vary and combinations can make translations of Koi fish color meanings less distinct.
The Tancho is distinguished by a red spot on the head. They are not an independent form of Koi and can be bred from several varieties. Your patch will only appear in the head region and they cannot be produced in bulk. The most common are all white with tancho. The goshiki tancho is a five-color koi that has a tancho. The contrast of sparkling white makes the appearance of the tancho distinctive and will increase the value of the fish.
The color meaning of Koi fish can be interpreted with the literal Japanese translation or you can take the initiative to label them with your choice of meanings that suit your particular pond.