Page 27 - Koi Net - On-Line Koi Magazine - Issue 30

This Koi does not conform to the aforementioned
guideline, but does its pattern not take your eye from
front to back? Does it not have balance?

The head pattern goes right down to the nose
(Hanatsuke or Tsukitsuki). At the other end the final Dan
reaches the tail thus extending the pattern in each
direction but at the same time maintaining the balance.

Using this photo as an example, a quick trick to assess
balance is to imagine a line running vertically through the
Koi from tail to mouth and then weigh up the amount of
pattern on either side. Another imaginary line could be
drawn across the middle of the Koi if needed to assess
that, in each quarter the colours are approximately
evenly balanced (see ‘Pattern Checking Tools’).
While on the subject of this photo the beige colour of the
head needs to be mentioned. Unless the photo has been
re-processed by a good photographer heads will often
appear a different colour from the body. This is because
cameras interpret reflective light and the Koi’s skin on the
body has scales that are more reflective than the skin on
the head. This is one of the reasons I suggest that the
main place for proper teaching is at a Koi Show where Moving on to the next group – the more complex
you can see fish in the flesh and compare them to patterns – 3 colours or more. Probably the most
others. common of these are the Sanshokus (literal translation
This Koi does not conform = three colours); the Taisho Sanshoku or Sanke and the
to the normal guidelines,
but its pattern takes your Simple and Complex Showa Sanshoku or Showa. Although not gifted with
eye from front to back. the suffix Sanshoku the Beni Kumonryu is another
Simple, two colour patterns come in many forms. With example of a complex 3 colour pattern. Those colours
the dorsal pattern they can be described simply counting being red (Beni), black (Sumi) and white (Shiro). All
the number of Dans using Japanese numbers; Nidan for three of these Koi are a meld of characteristics
a two step, Sandan for a three step and so on. There are belonging to two separate varieties.
a couple of other descriptions of significance – Inazuma
for a lightening strike pattern and Ippon Hi for a single The Sanke has a combination of two dorsal patterns.
Dan stretching the length of the Koi. No matter how Those of the Kohaku and the Bekko on a white ground.
many dans there are or how complicated they are, the
The Showa a combination of the Kohaku dorsal pattern
principles must still apply.
with the wrapping pattern of an Utsuri. (Technically
Looking at the Nidan and Sandan patterns they all fulfil the Showa is a black skinned Koi, but in terms of
both principles – leading the eye and balance. For your appreciation we discuss the black as if it were a colour.)
information, the diagrams opposite are intended to show
The Beni Kumonryu a combination of the linear
that balance can be achieved without symmetry.
Kumonryu pattern and that of the dorsal Kohaku pattern.
Beni Kumonryu Each of the above have a Metallic, Doitsu and Tancho
variant. The Tancho variant has only a single Beni Dan

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