History of Koi Ponds
Selasa, 29 November 2016
carp,
china,
General Koi Information,
japan,
koi,
koi breeding,
koi history,
love,
luck,
mutations,
Niigata Prefecture,
ong,
persia,
raising koi,
western asia.
Edit
The term “koi” is derived from a
Japanese word “nishikigoi”, which literally means brocaded carp. These
include the ornamental varieties of common carp, which are used for
decorative purposes in outside water gardens and koi ponds. However,
“koi” is more of an English word and includes both brightly colored as
well as dull, gray fish varieties. Koi, in Japanese, means love,
affection or friendship. Hence, ‘koi’ are used as a symbol of love and
good luck.
The exact origins of today’s koi are
still unknown, yet there is a common belief that they originated around
the areas of Western Asia and Persia. The carp exhibits exceptional
capabilities to survive and adapt to a wide range of water conditions
and climates. Owing to this reason, the common carp, found its way into
Japan and China by means of natural waterways or trade.
Origins of Koi Breeding
It was discovered that the protein
content of carp was very high. To that end, the rice farmers situated in
the Niigata Prefecture, began with the harvesting of carp, so as to
sustain themselves during the long winter months. Around the middle of
the 18thcentury, these farmers observed certain kind of
mutations (consisting of red and white blotches on the scales) on the
carp. Then, these mutated fishes were separated from the ordinary ones,
and selectively bred. This was the first instance of koi breeding, and
after this it became quite a pop
ular activity. In the 19th
century, koi breeders exhibited their prized possessions in Tokyo, where
people from all over Japan were present to take a look at these “living
jewels”.
Raising Koi gains popularity
Over the years, breeders started coming
up with new and different koi varieties. Koi enthusiasts could be found
in every corner of the world. Many people went by the Chinese belief
that koi brings in ‘ong’ which means, luck. Hence, they would build
small koi ponds outside their homes as a part of feng shui, so as to
fill their lives with good luck and prosperity. For others, having a koi
pond in the backyard was more of a fun and relaxing thing to do.
Regardless of the basic purpose, nothing could beat the charm and beauty
of having a koi pond on one’s property.
Why Koi are revered
Koi are a highly social and playful
variety of fishes. These are ideal for the water garden or a backyard
pond as they are playful, hardy, beautiful and love to be hand fed. When
you are in the process of choosing a koi to be added to your backyard
pond, make sure to pick the variety of fishes which are active and
friendly. Avoid fishes that show any signs of injury or are isolated.
The greater amount of time you spend
with your koi, the more you will be able to observe their individual
personalities and traits. Some koi varieties can have a life span as
long as humans. In addition to this, keeping koi in a well maintained
environment is also important in order to ensure that your fishes remain
healthy, alive and playful.
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