kinda dumb question >_<

Hey guys, this may sound kinda stupid, so I appologize in advance... Anyway, we all know the whole meaning of the Koi tattoo and the legend of it transforming into a dragon after climbing a waterfall etc.... anyway, I want to get a tattoo showing the transformation from Koi to Dragon. I know there's a name for that type of piece, but I can't for the life of me remember it... nor can I find it online. Can anyone help me out on this?

AL!!! YOU KNOW THIS ONE!!!!....help ole' panterajay out!... I know what you are talking about but I can't even remember what it is.... Something about...ah, hell....I'm not even going to try....having a moment.

Here you go jay! I'm not as mentally abled as I thought! Hope this helped!....J According to Japanese legend if a koi succeeded in climbing the falls at a point called Dragon Gate on the Yellow River it would be transformed into a dragon. Based on that legend, it became a symbol of worldly aspiration and advancement. More generally, the Japanese associate koi (also known as carp) with perserverance in adversity and strength of purpose. Because of its strength and determination to overcome obstacles, it stands for courage and the ability to attain high goals. Others say it means good fortune or luck.

Hey man, thanks for the info and quick reply... I already kinda looked that much up a while back though, I just want to know the name though (in fact maybe it was the name of the koi that did it, I just can't remember lol). Basically, I'm no artist so I wanted to find some pics of other tattoos depicting the transformation rather than just the koi swiming upstream. Just so I can give my artist a better idea of what I'm looking for. I talked to him today and he said he thinks he knows what I want but wasn't 100% sure. He only does freehand stuff though, so I don't really want to spend our entire session having him draw up something that's not what I want just to have him start over when he's 1-2hrs in... Again, thanks for getting back so fast :) Much appreciated

No Pantera...you have that wrong...thats his JOB to draw it til you are happy my friend...ask Jwerk about a tribal design that I had to draw up what was it about a dozen times (mostly because the guys wife was a --------- well she was difficult ( AL...hows THAT for velveteen mother fucker! LOL!) but ya know what I didn't mind at all...WHY?...cause thats my JOB....the man got EXACTLY what he wanted (well ,what his wife wanted!) and that is very important to any tattoo artist worth the name...And just for the record I am, as we speak ,drawing the dragon/Koi thing up for Daddy Rose.. You are correct though...that tattoo does have a specific name and now I am gonna go fuggin nuts tryin to remember it!...Thanks a lot! DAMMIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TAz

LMAO TAz!! sorry for the frustration... Remember that ninja idea I mentionned to you? Well it turns out I couldn't work it around this birthmark I've got... it kinda ruins the flow due to awkward placements and detail level, so this was the next piece I had in line... going to do the ninja in another place down the line. I guess you're right about it being his job and all, I know I wouldn't be an ass in telling him it's not what I wanted etc, but I still feel like one HAHA. I'll sen you pics as soon as I get some though, as requested .

Cannot wait to see em pal!!

Okay, wait a min... I would highly suggest against doing anything Ninja unless you are one, and honestly, except for Stephen Hays and his guys, I don't really think there are too many credible sources for that art anymore. Ninja concept developed historically much differently that people today think... do some research... make sure you know what you are talkin' about on this one... maybe you do, but I'm just sayin... If you were a ninja, the first thing you'd wanna do is not tell anyone about it.

Also, many legends about koi say that any koi that makes it up the falls is transformed into a dragon, but if I remember correctly, If you go further back into chinese mythology,there was only one koi that was ever able to complete the feat. He was a fish given to Confuscius by king Shoko Ro? as a gift on the birth of Confucious's first son. Confucious (mispelled again, damnit.) named his son after that fish. Damned if I can remember the fish's name though. Fuck, it was only like a thousand years ago. My brain aint what it used to be.

Confucius's son's name was Bwo-yw... But that's all I can find right now....

Hmmm... my post didn't hold...? So... take 2 lol I still don't know the actual name of the tattoo, but I got it today. Wayne (from New Moon tattoo) was amazing, spent a good 3hrs of our 8hr session freehanding the design and working it to my liking. So far the outline is done and all the solid black. Best line work of any of my tattoos so far as well. As soon as I find my USB cable for my cam I'll send you some pics TAz (and anyone else who might want them). My next apt. isn't till Aug 23 or 24th, kinda bumed about that, but what the hell, the quality is MORE than worth the wait.

Hmmm... my post didn't hold...? So... take 2 lol I still don't know the actual name of the tattoo, but I got it today. Wayne (from New Moon tattoo) was amazing, spent a good 3hrs of our 8hr session freehanding the design and working it to my liking. So far the outline is done and all the solid black. Best line work of any of my tattoos so far as well. As soon as I find my USB cable for my cam I'll send you some pics TAz (and anyone else who might want them). My next apt. isn't till Aug 23 or 24th, kinda bumed about that, but what the hell, the quality is MORE than worth the wait.

Thanks for the pics Jay!...Gonna be a killer tattoo folks....the line work is impeccable!...T

So I guess Longmen Falls is the name of the tattoo... synonymous (sp?) with Dragon's Gate I guess... anyway here's a link to one of the better one's I've found where it's got the dragon horns and beard starting etc...: http://www.irezumi.us/eg/touryuumon.html

OOH I like that semi transformation!!...Al...check it out!!! Thanks for turning us on to this my friend!

any time bro! Check out the rest of that guys work too... simply insane!!!!!!