Meanings of Koi Fish Tattoos

In Japanese culture, the koi fish tattoo design is associated with masculinity and flags depicting koi fish are flown to celebrate the birth of male children and are meant to endow them with desirable masculine qualities such as strength, determination and courage.  In Chinese culture, it was believed that if any of these tenacious creatures could navigate far enough up the Yellow River to reach the point known as the Dragon Gate, the fish would be transformed into a dragon.  This has therefore imbued the koi with the attributes of great ambition and the pursuit of dreams.  And then, of course, in western culture, there is the astrological sign of the zodiac, Pisces, often depicted as one or two colorful fish and symbolising compassion, imagination and intuitiveness.