Koi and Waterlilies

... it's triple eight today (08-08-08). I am not really into this beliefs but living in Asia esp. here in Singapore where majority of the people are Chinese... i learned some of their culture and beliefs, and one of their (and mine too) favorite item/s (and popular art) is :

Koi - comes from the Japanese, simply means "carp". It includes both the dull grey fish and the brightly coloured varities. Koi means "love" and "affection" and therefore symbols of love and friendship in japan.

Koi - for Chinese symbolize "wealth" and "success". In fact, the Chinese word for fish sounds similar the word for "surplus" or "abundance".

Waterlilies or Lotus - a symbolic of rebirth, but in addition to its religious meaning, the lotus is also a symbol of all that is true, good and beautiful, representing good fortune, peace and enlightenment.

*Two Koi fish and Lotus flowers can often be found in the same pond in front of a temple. The koi fish is a symbol typically for strength and individualism while lotus for good-luck and a symbol of life.

And I found out that when the position or if the two fish are in a circle way, it means (for Chinese) "circle of life"...


oil on 18"x24" stretched canvas

Koi and Waterlilies (c) JOKing