Koi Fish

Yesterday, we went to Duke Gardens for some family picture taking.  Of course,  I always find landscapes that I want to capture through my eye.  They have a beautiful Koi pond. The best I have ever personally seen.  As I watched all the different kinds and amazing colors, I wanted to know what the symbolism was for the Orientals.  

(So I looked it up)

Koi Fish Meanings and Koi Fish Colors

There are a few factors that help to determine a type of koi fish. They are usually identified by koi fish colors, markings, patterns and scale variations. Here are some of the more common types of these wonderful pond fish:

Kohaku. This is probably the most common and popular type of koi. It's colors are red and white. The japanese translation for kohaku is red and white.

Asagi. This beautiful fish is pale blue with an orange-red type color of belly. It's scales on it's back form a net pattern. The word asagi means pale blue.

Ogon. This shiny metallic koi is usually gold or orange. You can also find these in cream color, but they are rare in that color. The scales are one color. Ogon means gold.

Bekko. This koi can be white, yellow or red. It has black markings on it's body. Bekko translates into tortoise shell.

Matsuba. This koi is one color. It's scales are similar in design to a pinecone.

Utsuri. This fish is black with white, red or yellow markings. The markings are similar to ink stains. This is the reason the japanese word for to print, utsuri, is it's name.

Karasugoi. A black fish with an orange belly.

Showa. This beautiful koi has a black body with white and red markings.

Ochiba: A light blue koi with yellow markings. Ochiba translates to fallen leaves.

Butterfly koi: Koi that are bred with asian carp. The color is determined by the type of koi that is bred with the carp. Butterfly koi are known for their long, flowing fins.

Before looking at the koi fish color meaning, it’s a good idea to look at some of the symbolism of these amazing fish. In Japan, they are seen as a symbol of good fortune, luck, friendship, and love. Within the Buddhist religion they symbolize courage. There is a legend about the fish climbing the falls of the Yellow River. This is an old Chinese legend that points to the fish being symbolic of advancement. Still today they are considered to be symbolic of advancement materially and spiritually. If you think about these legends and the rich symbolism behind the koi, they’ll definitely mean a lot more to you when you add them to your own garden pond.
Color Meanings
Now that you know a bit about the symbolism and legend behind these fish, it’s a good idea to take a look at the koi fish color meaning as well. Before you even pick out the fish that you want, it’s nice to learn more about their coloration and what the different colors really stand for.
You’ll find that koi colors can relate to families. After all, they are symbolic of friendship and love, which is important in families. With regards to families, the koi fish color meaning has to do with various family members. Certain colors represent certain members of a family. For example, fish that are white and blue stand for a son in the family. Then you have the beautiful red and pink koi. The koi fish color meaning of the red and pink one is the daughter of the family. The vibrant flame red koi is symbolic of a mother within the family, and the father is represented by the black koi.
When it comes to koi fish color meaning, not all the colors have to do with the family. Various colors symbolize other things, such as wealth, friendship, or success. One type of koi is the Ogon, which is platinum colored. These fish almost look metallic and it’s easy to see why they are symbolic for fulfillment in wealth and wealth. They are also known to mean that you will be successful in your business. For this reason, many people who have a business will add a koi pond full of this specific type of fish.
Yamabuki is another type of koi and this koi has a gold color. It stands for gold, wealth, and prosperity. The Asagi koi happens to be the oldest type and their color is a mix of gray and blue. Some even come with a belly that is colored red. These koi are one of the most colorful options and the koi fish color meaning in this case is that your life and everything in it is going to be good.
No matter what color of fish that you have in your pond, you’ll find that the meaning of koi fish color meaning is always going to be something positive. This means that adding any color of these fish to your pond is a great idea because they are sure to have a positive meaning. You may even want to add a variety of different colors to your pond so you can enjoy a variety of different meanings.

Now that you know about the koi fish color meaning of various types of fish, your pond will have even more meaning. Think about the colors and what they mean before you choose your fish. Then choose fish with a meaning that you really like. Take care of these incredible koi and you’ll be able to enjoy them and everything they symbolize.