In horimono, what is the meaning of koi carp?
Koi represent endurance and strength – they can live as long as humans and are said to be very persistent. Their whiskers also represent wisdom, and fresh blood drawn from a koi is said to be a most potent tonic. Koi have the affections of Japanese people since they have been kept as pets for nearly 800 years. On the public festival known as Children’s Day, children fly tubular flags fashioned and painted like koi, in the hope that they too will grow up as strong and good as koi. The history of koi goes back further in China, where the legend of koi that migrate up the waterfalls of the Yellow River turn into dragons dates back to prehistory. In Japanese this is known as tōryūmon.
