Koi Tattoos:

According to Japanese legend, if a koi succeeded in climbing the falls at a point called Dragon Gate on the Yellow River, it would be transformed into a dragon. Based on that legend, it became a symbol of worldly aspiration and advancement.

More generally, the Japanese associate koi (also known as carp) with perseverance in adversity and strength of purpose. Because of its strength and determination to overcome obstacles, it stands for courage and the ability to attain high goals.

More input from WikiAnswers contributors:

• It means good fortune or luck.

• Symbolic in the Buddhism to represent courage. Humans "swim" through the "ocean of suffering" without fear, just like a fish swims through water.

• The koi is symbolic with family. On Children's Day koi flags are raised: Black koi, the father; Orange/Red, the mother; Blue/White for a boy; and red/pink for a girl.

• There is another word to describe "love" which is "koi". The kanji character for "kokoro (heart)" is included as part of both kanji characters. Both "ai" and "koi" are probably translated as "love" in English. However, they have slightly different nuance: "Koi" is a love for the opposite sex, or a longing feeling for a specific person. It can be described as "romantic love" or "passionate love". While "ai" has the same meaning as "koi," it also has a definition of a general feeling of love. "Koi" can be selfish, but "ai" is a real love. Here are some lines that explain them well: Koi is always wanting. Ai is always giving."

• A koi tattoo is supposed to represent different things it just depends on the color and the amount of them and the direction they are swimming in the stream. Five golden koi is supposed to represent eternal wealth and well-being. Each color represents a specific meaning. Some people believe that the color of koi tattoo on your body should be in harmony with you and your surroundings.

Koi is a domesticated carp and looks more or less like a wild carp. Koi, however, are generally smaller than wild carp and have been bred so that they are most well viewed from the top. They tend to be not so deep from the dorsal to pectral fins as wild carp. Neither koi nor wild carp stop growing, but the smaller environments (ponds and the like) in which koi are kept limits size somewhat.

Koi varieties include both single-color fish and multicolored, generally mottled, fish. Frequently seen colors are white, black, yellow, and a spectrum of reds tending most often toward the orange and of the range.

The koi fish in Japanese folklore represents the overcoming of obstacles, because the koi fish travels up the yellow river and when it comes to the end of the river it transforms into the dragon; thus overcoming the adversity represented by the strong river to fufill its own destiny.

The Koi is the symbol of strength and will, the will to go against odds to reach the destiny. And the Dragon is the power and ferocity. The mystery and Aura.

The Koi Dragon is all about a re birth or new start/ begining. I.e. After a divorce/ bereavement signalling a new chapter in a strong willed persons lifrte. Thus enabling them to move on and start afresh.

Edit: Most of this is correct except actually it is a waterfall that a Koi climbs. Not a river. For the waterfall represents challenge in life. If the koi can manage to climb said waterfall he will become a dragon. Another words if one is able to overcome obstacles/challenges they will be greater for it

the koi fish turns into a dragon, according to Japanese folklore.

The Legend of the Rainbow River

Japanese legend has it that every year thousands of Koi, a courageous, strong, and dedicated fish, make a perilous and difficult journey up the Rainbow (or Dragon) river.

Out of perhaps a million Koi, only once in many years, one Koi is dedicated and strong enough to swim all the way to the head of the river, known as "The Dragon Gate" (or "The Rainbow Gate") and leap from the water.

He is transformed into a dragon. This tattoo tells the story of this little Koi's journey. Up the inside of the collector's calf swims the determined little fish. Against all odds he reaches the head of the River and leaps from the water. Above the metaphorical Dragon's Gate of the collector's knee, the koi-fish begins his transformation mid leap, becoming a Koi-dragon, before continuing down the outside of the collector's calf as a full fledged dragon.

very generally, they represent good luck in japan. in china different numbers of fish, including koi, represent different kinds of luck i.e. 9 koi or 9 fish, means good financial luck.

In Japan, the symbolism of koi fish depends on their color.

• Yamabuki: The gold fish represents (of course) gold, wealth and prosperity.

• Ogon: The platinum colored fish represents the fulfillment of wealth in the form of success in business.

• Kumonryu: A midnight black colored fish that is named after a Japanese dragon of transformation - and this fish is said to bring about change in life circumstances.

• Kohoku: A white and red fish (known as a "cap" fish with white body and a red mark on its head) believed to encourage advancement in career.

• Kuchibeni: Also white and red (known as a "lipstick" fish with a white body and red markings around the mouth) said to inspire long lasting, loving relationships.

Simple explanation so this phrase would be: -

"the pure shall rule, and impure will be no more"

But it didn't justify the whole Dhora so I decided to have an in depth look in to it.

Guru Gobind Singh had written Dohra at Hazoor Sahib. He wrote this Dohra after giving Gur Gaddi to Guru Granth Sahib and original text is at Hazoor Sahib and this is being read there since 10th Guru's time. This Dohra is also written in Giani Gian Singh's book and perhaps also in Biaji Mkut Sakhi 10. The Dohra is also quoted in a few Rehitnamas.

"Agya bhai Akal ki tabhi chalayo Panth Sabh Sikhan ko hukam hai Guru manyo Granth Guru Granth Ji manyo pargat Guran ki deh Jo Prabhu ko milbo chahe khoj shabad mein le Raj karega Khalsa aqi rahei na koe Khwar hoe sabh milange bache sharan Jo hoe." Translation:

"Under orders of the Immortal Being, the Panth was created. All the Sikhs are enjoined to accept the Granth as their Guru. Consider the Guru Granth as embodiment of the Gurus. Those who want to meet God, can find Him in its hymns. The pure shall rule, and impure will be no more, Those separated will unite and all the devotees shall be saved."

The composition of this sacred Granth contains rendering (Bani) of six Gurus of Sikh faith and some Bhaktas and saints. It was composed in this form in the year 1604 with the addition later of Guru Tegh Bahadur's Bani (sacred composition). And its blessings are sought by the seeker with devout heart. Sikh religion sincerely believes that in each of succeeding Gurus, the spirit of Guru Nanak was operating incarnated.

The sacred Granth is installed in all Sikh holy places of worship and treated as presiding presence of Guru, an apostle of Divine Truth. The devotees of congregation in solemn assembly pray and seek blessings of the Supreme. This comes through in the mystical thought of Gurbani and it stands for realization of the Truth. The Gurus' word, known as 'sabad' is taken as the mystic thought of Guru.

In the words of Bhai Gurdas, a great scholar of Guru's time, "In the word is the Guru, and the Guru is in the word (sabad). In other words, the human body was not the Guru but the light of the word (shabad) and within the heart was their real personality." When the human mind dives deeper and deeper into the Guru's word, all mental impurities depart and wisdom of the Guru draws on the human soul. Thereby the devotee attains the divine light and wisdom which makes him to contemplate on God's name (naam). In the light of above realities, the Sikh religion makes the holy Granth as a living master of Sikh Panth.

Before setting for heavenly abode, Sri Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru, the founder of order of Khalsa brotherhood, conferred the Guruship to Sri Granth Sahib as a living Guru of Khalsa.