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For a few years now I have been deciding on getting a tattoo…which later became several tattoos I do want to eventually get as my budget allows. I was going to get one last December for my birthday but then of course couldn’t after I was hit with the whole birth control blood clot ordeal, and have been on blood thinners since then, so it’s be life-threatening to get a tattoo in my present condition.
However, there is new hope. I am currently off of blood thinner for 2 weeks before I go in for serious testing. IF, and it is a big “if,” if I test ok and don’t show heavy clotting in my bloodstream I can get a tattoo. Most people I guess need to be on the meds for a year or two, or even life my doctor says…and I WILL NOT stay on these drugs for life, I have already made up my mind to that, since any injury could become my doom and recent events (the car accident) has shown me that anything can happen at any time.
Now I had wanted a special and significant armband…but something else has called to me lately…the koi. There is an ancient story that says that a koi who makes the long journey up the Yellow River and leaps over the waterfall at the Dragon’s Gate will become a dragon. The koi have thus become a symbol of change and perseverance, and I feel that the koi would therefore be the ideal tattoo to symbolize the arduous year that I have gone through, both with the fighting with family, getting married, moving out, nearly dying twice, and now finally growing up to live my own life, this is important to me.
I want to draw a koi dragon…a hybrid of a koi that has crossed the Dragon’s Gate. Does anyone have any ideas for what koi species I should use for this or should I make one up? I do prefer calico koi, but perhaps one koi has more significance over others…and i know nothing of flower symbolism and I may want one there since koi are often pictures with them. Any suggestions? In case my tests come back OK, I plan to run out and get the tattoo as fast as I can draw it, but I do want to prepare for the best, and prepare sketches and ideas and such. any help would be appreciated.
I have no advice for the tattoo itself, but I have advice for you, if you don’t have a trusted tattoo artist. Hopefully, you have friends that have tats and can point you to a good one. Make sure the shop is clean. Go for somebody that has lots of experience, unless you’ve seen their work and it’s outstanding. Go with somebody that is an artist and can draw their own flash – they will do better with what you bring them. Most artists have books of their finished tats, so you can get an idea of their finished products. Research before you buy – just like any major purchase.I would hate to see you end up with a crummy tat… or something worse. Just my 2 cents. 😀
I agree with lamortefille. Also, if the artist isn’t willing to show you pics of their original work, not just stock tattoos, they probably are not very good as an artist and you wouldn’t want them drawing on you with needles.
As for the flower, I have several suggestions based on what you’ve mentioned that would go well with the koi theme:
1) Lotus: To the Egyptians and in many other cultures, the lotus is a symbol of rebirth. It closes and falls to the water at night, but rises from the murky, muddy waters anew each morning (technically the Egyptians were talking about a waterlily, but…). There are different colors that symbolize different chakras (if you wanted to get into it) further down on this page
http://www.khandro.net/nature_plants_lotus.htmI did like the analogy on the page though for the lotus’ symbolism in Buddhism –
Quote:Because they emerge from slime and corruption, then grow up through the purifying water to emerge into the sunlight, they are seen as metaphors for the development of the individual being towards enlightenment. That is, the flower stands for renunciation of the entanglements of samsara, and for the pure aspiration that is the desire for enlightenment for the sake of others.
2) Bamboo – it’s a symbol of longevity (it’s always growing new shoots) and is a symbol of strength and grace because it may bend, but does not break very easily. It also can symbolise the path to enlightenment, with each segment being a ‘step’ on that path.
3) Chrysanthemum – it’s a symbol of long life and is the national flower of Japan.
For the species of koi, wikipedia shows a good picture of different koi species
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koi
There is also a species called butterfly koi (also known as dragon koi) which have very long, feathery fins and tails, but they are hybrids and not considered true koi.I hope this helps! I have a tattoo idea I’d love to get, but I’d have to wait until after I get to go to Japan in a few years (it’s still VERY taboo and some places, like gyms and onsens, won’t let you in) and I’d have to see if I was allergic to the ink (my skin doesn’t like weird stuffs). Good luck!
The peony is another attractive Asian flower. Apparently, one idea it encompasses is the complementary nature of opposites, and a positive influence on a woman and man living harmoniously together. Or so a quick ‘net search tells me. 😉
Wow thanks for all the help guys! I’ll definately be looking up that info. As for the tattoo parlor, I may have found one close to me that’s decent. It’s very clean and everyone that has gone there speaks highly of it. I did go visit and looked at some stuff…not too bad, though I’m amazed at how unoriginal or unmeaningful some people can be about ther tattoos…but to each their own.
Almost forgot to add… there is an enormous, gorgeous solid-colour golden koi that I’ve seen for sale at a garden centre here in town. Not sure what kind of koi as I am no expert, but it and the similar silver-blue koi always make me think “they look like dragons!” when I see them.
Their body form looks a lot like a ‘standard’ type of koi to me (the kind normally seen in paintings), so if you’re looking for something more special, that might not be the best choice. But the colours are so striking!
small world really. I am looking at a koi/with rainbow tat design myself…but I wish I drew them better. I need a koi artist~ I want one that is not so Japanese in style, so mean looking. I want one that is a “cartoon” but more realistic. Kinda like a Disney style Koi…only more like the style they used for the background animals on The Lion King. So realisic..but simple. Hard to explain. I have my first sketch done…but I need help. I too would like to know the differnce in the Koi’s as far as the meanings of the colors…although a light calico is my favorite. ummmmmm
I’ll see if I can find translations for some of the names of the koi if I can. That may help as well. Also, found this website http://www.koi.com/reference/encyclopedia/.
They even say how to pronounce the different types and little tidbits about them. Apparently the Kohaku variety is considered one of the most prized. I do know that the Tancho Kohaku ones (white with a red circle only on the head) is named after the Japanese crane (Tancho in Japanese) and cranes are a symbol of longevity. If nothing else, the website is just neat 8)
Watergazer wrote:Wow thanks for all the help guys! I’ll definately be looking up that info. As for the tattoo parlor, I may have found one close to me that’s decent. It’s very clean and everyone that has gone there speaks highly of it. I did go visit and looked at some stuff…not too bad, though I’m amazed at how unoriginal or unmeaningful some people can be about ther tattoos…but to each their own.
So, imagine being the tattoo artist – doing their 50th puma or Tazmanian Devil on somebody. lol I’m glad you found a good place to go. I’m sure you will come up with a beautiful tat. Pictures, please!
Awesome, I am having fun getting images of koi and koi tattoos on-line. I will probably need to draw up several tattoos before I decide on just one, so I will show you what I do come up with, and if anybody likes it you can have it too. Plus I’ll need to do color swatches too but the one black and white koi with the red forehead somehow strikes me special…and knowing the story of the cranes is even better. That may just be the koi for me!
Also, what I plan to draw up are kois but also koi dragons, in my style. I think doing a cross-over hybrid koi between koi and dragon would be awesome since it’s hardly ever done. Just think…a koi with noce oriental dragon horns. I’ll probably make longer fins too.
The pronounciations on that web site are awesome! Great to hear it spoken and not spelled out.
whippetluv wrote:small world really. I am looking at a koi/with rainbow tat design myself…but I wish I drew them better. I need a koi artist~ I want one that is not so Japanese in style, so mean looking. I want one that is a “cartoon” but more realistic. Kinda like a Disney style Koi…only more like the style they used for the background animals on The Lion King. So realisic..but simple. Hard to explain. I have my first sketch done…but I need help. I too would like to know the differnce in the Koi’s as far as the meanings of the colors…although a light calico is my favorite. ummmmmm
Hey Whippet, like this?
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/15503818
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/9399822One tip just make sure the koi if facing up. Koi that are swimming down are bad luck and bad feng shui. It’s said that if a koi tattoo is facing down it drains all the good luck out of the body. But if the koi is “jumping” or facing up it’s always bringing good luck into the body. If you have any tattoo questions you can PM I was a tattoo artist 😀 so I might be able to help with somethings. Also for the type of koi a red-step koi might be nice. They are the one’s that are white with red markings the markings are said to be the steps to heaven. But alot of tattoos are this type of koi.
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