Another creature strongly connected with the element of water , these koi fish with their golden and red scales are the foundation and source of motivation in the lives of a Japanese . There ’ s more to the school of colorful fishes than what meets the eye .
Legends say that if these koi fishes succeed in swimming upstream along the “ Yellow River ” and reaches the “ Dragons Gate ”, they would be transformed into a Dragon and ascend heaven , the ultimate achievement of one ’ s goal . The myths that surrounded them had shaped them into symbols of ambitions and luck .
A red koi fish would represent love or passion , but the shades and tones of it would also resulted in a masculine meaning : it takes courage to swim upstream in a running river . There are many obstacles and predators that would stop them in their journey . But they will never once quiver and will not hesitate to hold onto their place in life , almost instinctively from how you would normally see fishes flapping the fins when they were taken out of water .
They work in groups to escape , to overcome the obstacles , and continue on to become what they strive to be . It is the purest form of fraternal relationships . There is no questioning , even a small fish has got the mental capacity comparable to a grown man . They are valued for their luck against the stumbles of life and their accomplishments , but it is the inspiration to work hard to succeed despite their small statues . How these carp are capable of leaping out of the rough waves and became part of the sky high above . They never once reject their appearances or supposed insignificance with what they were born with or the universe has given them , they accept who they are and this is the first step of becoming a better version of themselves . How could they have become dragons if they don ’ t believe in themselves ?
Spirituality varies within each and every one of us . It is a universal subconscious of humans and what bring purpose to our lives , the will to continue living on and see another day . Our own experiences and personal relationships depends greatly in the formation of it and in turns , it becomes our aspirations . These koi fishes , one identical to the other , is simply a small speck in the massive ocean . But such great aspiration lives on in such a tiny body which is what makes them stand out from others . Each and every one of them are distinctly different in their own ways and they have their own determined destination in mind . In face of the apparent commonality , there exist a personal strive at one point in anyone ’ s lives .
Backdrop and communal experiences have a great impact on the nation ’ s behavior and in shaping the mindset of a Japanese ’ s distinctive identity . Koifish is not only a symbol of fortune , it is the way individuals strive for advancement and seeking the limits of their capabilities . It was understanding the depths of the struggles they face , both emotional and physical pressures , from the world around them .
In Japan ’ s working culture , “ Kaorshi ” is used to describe someone dying due to overwork . It is not uncommon to see office workers spending late nights in offices and arriving really late back home . In fact , they are supposed to place their work as a priority over families .
A man working in a HK touring agency for Japan trips mentioned when he lived in Japan , if you arrived home early from work , the entire apartment complex would spread the news about it and you would be considered as a non-hard working person . This was what the Japanese were taught when growing up and what sets them apart from other nationalities . It might not necessarily be considered a positive thing amongst a community , especially when unity is associated with harmony and compassion , but it is the encouragement of the “ Uchi-Soto ” ( Us and Them ) that helps to strive the economy and help bring food to the table in this overtaking society , with few jobs to spare .
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