Japanese art and meaning.

This flower is a symbol of purity .  Since it sprouts from muddy waters, the lotus shows that beauty can come from unexpected places.   Rich with divine symbolism, it also represents enlightenment .  In irezumi, the lotus flower is typically paired with Buddhist imagery, whether as a floral throne for a Buddha or as a divine trope.  Buddhas and bodhisattvas are usually depicted sitting or standing on the lotus flower as well as holding it.  The lotus also makes a fine stand-alone tattoo.

          The Carp (Koi), the king of the river fish, is much esteemed in Japan for many of its qualities. It is commonly known as an emblem of perseverance, strength, courage and success. These symbolic characteristics are mainly based on the fact that carp are known to be able to swim up a waterfall and up a river over a great distance, even when the flow is very strong. The strength attributed to carp originated in China, where the fish was said to have braved the Wu-Men rapids and to have swum up the Lung-Men falls on the Yellow River.  On May 5, carp banners are flown in Japan by parents and sons to express the hope that their boys will grow strong and healthy. On the banners, the black carp, called magi, represents the father, the red carp, or chigoe, is the mother, and the blue carp, called kogoe, is the child. These colors can be used in tattooing to identify the koi or show the relationship between them.     According ...