Koi and Lotus Tattoo
A koi framed by lotus petals and Japanese clouds: perseverance and purity, in the style these symbols come from.
- Style
- Japanese
- Joined
- Framed
- Placement
- Upper arm
Opens Tattoo Fusion with these choices. Change the style, placement or what it means to you; every design is new.
What a koi and lotus tattoo means
In Japanese legend a koi that swims up the waterfall becomes a dragon, so the koi stands for perseverance against the current. The lotus grows out of mud into a clean flower and stands for purity rising out of hardship. Together they mean pushing through struggle and coming out better, which is why the pair has been a Japanese tattoo favourite for generations.
- KoiPerseverance against the current
- LotusPurity rising out of hardship
Where to put it
Traditional Japanese pieces flow with the body: the upper arm into a half sleeve, the thigh, or the back. A koi swimming upward means struggle; swimming down means the goal was reached.
Tips for the design
- Decide the koi's direction: upstream means still fighting, downstream means you made it.
- Wind bars, waves or clouds tie the koi and lotus into one flowing piece.
- Bold outlines and solid colour keep it bright for decades.
Try it in another style
Questions
What does a koi and lotus tattoo mean?
Perseverance through hardship and coming out pure. The koi fights the current; the lotus rises clean out of the mud.
Which way should the koi swim?
By custom, swimming upward means you are still struggling toward a goal; swimming downward means you have achieved it.
