What is the difference between koi and Japanese koi?

The fish that we have here come from the same ancestors as the Japanese koi, and are pretty much the same, genetically. Beyond any superficial differences, the main difference between domestic and imported fish tends to be their hardiness, with domestic koi generally being healthier and more vigorous.

Why are koi carp special in Japan?

In most Japanese cultures, koi represent a material and spiritual abundance or advancement. Feng shui, a spiritual form of organization and placement of objects, says that having the spirit of the koi near you will attract good luck, fortune, and spiritual benefits.

Are koi carp Japanese or Chinese?

錦鯉 – Nishikigoi, often called Koi fish or Japanese carp, are fish with colors and patches raised and kept for appreciation. The carp originates from China and was brought to Japan by means of gifts. Its first Japanese mention dates back to 71AD (of Koi held by the presumed legendary Emperor Keikō).

Where do Japanese koi come from?

Koi fish are a colorful, ornamental versions of the common carp. Though carp domestication is believed to have begun in China as far back as the 4th century, modern Japanese koi are believed to date back to early 19th-century Japan where wild, colorful carp were caught, kept and bred by rice farmers.

How do you identify Japanese koi fish?

Koi will be black with orange, white or yellow. Utsuri means reflections in Japanese. The Utsuri should have inverted areas of each color. The Utsuri should have a consistent offset pattern of it’s colors with always having black on the head.

What’s the difference between carp and koi?

The most obvious and most important difference between koi fish and the common carp is their coloration. Koi fish come in a whole spectrum of colors and patterns. The common carp on the other hand is almost always a dark brown or golden brown color which fades into a lighter hue near the fins and belly.

What is koi fish called in English?

Koi (鯉, English: /ˈkɔɪ/, Japanese: [koꜜi]) or more specifically nishikigoi (錦鯉, Japanese: [ɲiɕi̥kiꜜɡoi], literally “brocaded carp”), are colored varieties of the Amur carp (Cyprinus rubrofuscus) that are kept for decorative purposes in outdoor koi ponds or water gardens.

What is the meaning of Japanese koi fish?

Its name, Koi fish, originates from the Japanese name Nishikigoi, which translated means ‘brocaded carp’. Because ‘Koi’ in Japanese is a homophone for another word meaning love and affection, the Koi fish is often a symbol of love, friendship, and commitment in Japan.

Which country has named the koi as its national fish?

In Japan, the koi is a symbol of luck, prosperity, and good fortune, and also of perseverance in the face of adversity. Ornamental koi are symbolic of Japanese culture and are closely associated with the country’s national identity.

Where can koi fish be found?

Koi fish originates from Eastern Asia. This fish lives in fresh waters. Thanks to its beauty and increased popularity in the past century, koi fish can be found in the ponds throughout the world.

Are there different types of koi fish?

There are over a 100 different types of koi (Nishikigoi). To find the proper koi classification you will need to look at their colors, patterns, and body confirmation.

Are Koi fish native to Japan?

Although koi are the national fish of Japan, they are not a native species —they were brought to Japan from China in the 1st Century A.D. as a source of food. In fact, the earliest record of koi farming traces back to China in the 5th Century B.C. Koi has since spread its fins beyond Japan and is now loved by people around the world.

What does the Japanese word “koi” mean?

There are two meanings for the Japanese word “Koi”, one being the name of the fish and the other meaning “love” or “care” (the kanji of the words are different). Koi is a freshwater fish which comes in both dull and bright variety of colors. It is seen in freshwater sources like ponds in a shrine or a nearby rivulet in grasslands.

How many different types of koi fish are there?

According to Zen Nippon Airinkai, a group that leads the breeding and dissemination of koi in Japan, there are more than 100 varieties of koi created through breeding, and each variety is classified into 16 groups. Koi varieties are distinguished by coloration, patterning, and scalation.

Are Koi fish good luck in Japanese gardens?

If there is a pond in a Japanese garden, chances are, you will also find koi. Japanese gardens are often found close to or within temples and palaces, also very auspicious places. Koi may very well have been kept close to these places as a good luck charm or to ensure the success of those who visit.