Koi fish tattoo design arm

If you’re looking around for ideas for your next tattoo design or even just browsing through the portfolios of tattoo artists, you’re bound to have come across photos of koi fish tattoos.

A common choice for both men and women, koi designs became a major tattoo trend a few years ago and have remained highly popular since.

You might be wondering why someone would get a tattoo of a fish – besides it looking awesome (not that this isn’t a good enough reason!).

As a matter of fact, koi fish have major cultural significance, particularly in Japan and China, and a range of symbolic meanings – making them an interesting, multilayered, and highly customizable choice for a tattoo.

Cultural significance of koi fish

Koi are related to the carp – a common freshwater fish.

Carp were originally brought to Japan and domesticated as a food source, but were later bred for their aesthetic appearance – eventually resulting in the 24 varieties of differe