Koi Dragon (Koiryu)

Meaning: Perseverance, Determination, Strength

This image comes from an ancient Chinese story and has been adopted into Japanese mythology as well. It is a popular story of a school of carp swimming up the Yellow River in China. They eventually came to a waterfall where many of the fish gave up and went back down stream. Several stayed and tried to leap up and over the waterfall. This caught the attention of some local Oni who decided to raise the height of the waterfall just to spite the efforts of the fish.

Eventually, all but one of the Koi gave up their efforts. But one Koi persevered and after a hundred years of trying it finally overcame the waterfall. This effort did not go unnoticed by the gods and for its’ effort it was rewarded by becoming a golden dragon.

Like the koi the koi dragon is associated with the samurai and it symbolizes a destiny fulfilled.