Koi fish, Lan Su Chinese Garden, Portland, Oregon
© Greg Vaughn/Getty Image
A pond of stories. Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
They don't rush—they ripple. Meet the koi, photographed at a Lan Su Chinese Garden pond in Portland, Oregon. In many Asian cultures, these colorful swimmers symbolize patience, perseverance, and transformation. They can live for decades—some reach 25 to 50 years, and others live far longer: one koi named Hanako was reportedly 226 years old.
In China, paintings of nine koi represent wealth and prosperity, while a pair of black-and-white fish symbolizes balance, or yin and yang. The legend of a koi swimming upstream and leaping a waterfall to become a dragon reminds us to keep moving. In Japan, they are associated with samurai, embodying composure and the spirit of Bushido (the way of the warrior). Koi are also associated with love, thanks to a homophone in Japanese, and appear in Children's Day celebrations as carp-shaped streamers, or koinobori.
This May—Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month—let them inspire you to honor your roots, embrace growth, and carp-e diem—one ripple at a time.
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