Koi & Lotus

The Origin of Koi Fish

Koi originated in China over 2,000 years ago, bred from wild carp originally raised as a food source. Around the 17th century, koi cultivation spread to Japan, where farmers in the Niigata region began selectively breeding carp for their color mutations reds, whites, and golds turning them into ornamental fish rather than food. 

Meaning of 9 Koi Fish

The number 9 is considered the luckiest number representing perfection, abundance, and boundless good fortune, as it's the highest single-digit number (1-9). Paintings featuring 9 koi fish are often called "Nine Koi Fish" or "Koi Kujaku," believed to bring multiplied luck, prosperity, and positive energy to their owner.

Koi Fish and the Lotus Flower

Koi and lotus are often depicted together because both share the same watery environment a pond and carry complementary meanings. The lotus grows from mud at the bottom of the water yet blooms pure and beautiful above the surface, symbolizing purity, enlightenment, and the ability to rise above hardship. Koi, swimming persistently against the current, represent perseverance and good fortune.