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华贵锦鲤,风水之宝




锦鲤(Koi)为日语Nishikigoi的短写,在日语的意思是"具装饰性的鲤鱼"。本为普通的鲤鱼经过几世纪的具选择性的养殖,成为极受世人喜爱饲养在水池或花园的鱼。

近日在商务往来中,互送锦鲤渐成一种时尚风潮。小到商务伙伴礼尚往来,大到商肆开业庆典,锦鲤都成为旺运招财馈赠佳礼的不二之选,风头大劲。几尾色泽艳丽、生气勃勃的风水锦鲤摆放于店堂之内,顿时便春色满堂、瑞意浓浓,鱼儿于水中穿游嬉戏,不仅令室内增添不少灵动华贵之气,也让人耳目一新,精神备爽。

其实锦鲤自古就被中国人视为吉祥之物,旧时通常被饲养于寺院、庙社的池塘中,寓意吉祥富泰。我国南方部分地区的家庭和企业至今仍然沿袭着春节期间购买锦鲤摆放的习俗。

事实上,不管是旧习还是时流,锦鲤作为一种风水鱼得以广为流传确有其道理。锦鲤“活宝石”的美称实在名副其实,并非仅仅是从观赏的角度而得名。

华贵锦鲤,风水之宝

风水之说,自古有之。古人认为:好的风水是藏风蓄气得水,以得水为上。气总处于流通之中,很容易被风吹散而打破循环平衡,但遇到水便会停下来,因此水可以起到使气运流通平稳、循环往复的功效,也就是可以留住风水。而水中有吉物,更可以调整气运流通的缓急,保得风水之地灵气不散。

所谓“直生煞,曲生情”。锦鲤背高体阔,身形俊秀,柔中带刚;性格雄健沉稳,具有临危不乱、泰然自若的君子风度,自古就被看作是龙的化身。锦鲤长寿,平均年龄达七十岁,其中最长寿者有超过两百年的记录。因为寿命长,又有“祝鱼”的吉称。更为奇特的是,锦鲤还有识人的灵性,当主人巡视池边的时候,它们常会跟在身后,将头部露出水面,就像在水中行走一般,颇为神奇。锦鲤于水中不仅仪态万方,还能荡垢净水,真正是集天地灵气于一身,载水之华贵为一体的风水至宝。

丹顶行运通,黄金伴财长

锦鲤品类众多,大体又可分为红白锦、三色锦、丹顶、黄金、乌鲤、金银鳞等几个品类。其中最为官宦人士所喜爱的是素有“官鲤”之称的丹顶。此种锦鲤通体雪白,只有头顶正中有一红色圆斑,游时如白龙翻江,静时若丹阳卧水,在风水上主事业兴旺,官运亨通,因而又有“鸿运当头”的美称。

据史料记载,明代“三朝元老”叶向高一生酷爱丹顶锦鲤,不仅在做官之前终日于石竹山的鲤鱼湖畔临水愤读,万历十一年考取功名后也在家中池塘饲养数条丹顶,不管是后来举家迁居福清,还是万历卅五年再度回朝,数尾丹顶始终如家人一般伴其左右,在当时被称为“鱼不离叶”。叶向高一生官运亨通,历经三朝,身为“独相”主政八载;即使仕途中稍有波折,也是迎风而解;晚年悠游山水,得享天年。由此,丹顶旺官运、兴考运的说法流传于世。

冠若玄珠、婉若游龙的丹顶是求官运之人的最爱,遍体金色的黄金锦鲤时下则最受商务人士的亲睐。它全身只有单色金黄,鱼鳞排列整齐,浑身发出如黄金般的灿灿晶光。因它可以招财,摆放在店堂中就如同供奉财神一样吉利,固而成为最受欢迎的商务礼品之一。

其实,锦鲤自古就被视作是财富和地位的象征,自西周时期便有典故。据考证,周宣王之弟姬友曾受封于郑地浦源,后世子孙郑氏常年伴锦鲤于溪旁,一直到北宋年间,郑氏一族始终进士辈出,达官不穷,此时溪中之鲤以丹顶居多。而自郑尚公之后,浦源郑氏却鲜有达官出现,但此处的士绅商甲却是富可敌国。奇特的是,浦源溪中的锦鲤也由一池丹顶逐渐演变为多条黄金。直到上个世纪八十年代,浦源人依然以善于经商而名传全国,富户层出,经年不衰。因此,浦源郑氏对代代相传的风水锦鲤格外尊崇,不管有人出多高的价格都绝不出卖。

三色属桃花,红白福满堂

其实在众多的锦鲤品种中,三色锦鲤是最为常见的。白底之上有红、黑两色的美丽饰纹,游动起来,十分赏心悦目。在风水学中,素有颜色鲜艳的鱼主爱情的说法。而现实生活中这一说法也得到了印证,在我国锦溪,男孩子娶亲时,三色锦鲤是必备的聘礼之一,而收到三色锦鲤的女方在出嫁前则要在家中好好培育,待到出嫁的那一天,三色锦鲤长得越大、花纹越清晰,意味着两个人以后的爱情越长久,婚姻也越美满。现下,三色锦鲤也常作为“礼鱼”被赠送给新婚夫妇,祝福新人家宅和美,幸福绵长。而未婚男女如果在居室内摆放颜色鲜艳的锦鲤,也可起到催动桃花运的作用。

红白锦鲤因其白底红纹而得名。它泳姿矫健,繁殖力强且是锦鲤之中最为长寿的品种,因此又得名“福寿鱼”。早在春秋时期,浙东一带新媳妇下花轿时,就有“鲤鱼撒子”祈求多子多福、寿禄齐全的习俗。而这种鲤就是我们今日常见的红白锦鲤。如今新人婚后,依然要在婚房中放置一对红白锦鲤的饰物,取“子孙满堂”、“人丁兴旺”之意。而给老人祝寿,红白锦鲤也是极佳的礼品之一。

三三不尽,六六无穷

虽说锦鲤乃镇宅旺运的风水之宝,但饲养、摆放亦有讲究。如若方法不当,反而会适得其反。

养风水锦鲤,数量极为关键。最大众作法是以九条为宜。我国的传统,以九为至尊至阳之数,具有极其尊贵含意,而风水学中又素有“三三不尽,六六无穷”的说法,六条丹顶表“鸿运连年”,五条红白又寓“五福临门”。及至“三羊开泰”,“双龙戏水”的说法也是广为流传。固养锦鲤以旺风水,三、六、五、九、二都是得法的吉数。

其次,饲养锦鲤数量只得增,不得减,增是增福,减则是要减寿的。如果其中一条不幸病故,则要及时补充,唯有如此,才会保得风水不失。

锦鲤贵为风水之宝,摆放方位亦十分关键。

东丹顶西黄金,宅中灵物

不论是在我国的八卦玄学中,还是在西方的塔罗奥义里,东方都代表成功和发展,丹顶由于全身红(鸿)运集于一点,因而最宜摆放在东方位以补充能量。而西方总是代表金钱和社会地位,又由于西方是落日之方,缺乏“金”质,故在西方位摆放黄金锦鲤是最旺运招财的作法。

南、北两方分别代表名望和家庭。南方宜暖,但又不可射强光,所养锦鲤要能捕捉日光,蓄集暖气,因此红白锦或三色锦以其色泽丰富及柔和光线之功效位于南方最养风水。而北方由于着光最差,阴气过重,最适宜摆放一对乌鲤,吸阴挡煞。

送锦鲤的风潮愈演愈烈,在家中、店堂摆放一池锦鲤也渐渐成为一种似乎并无理由的流行时尚。而随着这种时尚的继续,锦鲤的风水之意再次被人们关注。其实,这也很正常,因为锦鲤这种美丽、可爱风水鱼从未淡出人们的生活, 哪里有它的踪迹,哪里就会得到祥瑞吉庆的美好祝福!

What is Koi / Koie?

Koi(鯉, Koi), or more specifically nishikigoi (錦鯉, nishikigoi), literally "brocaded carp", are ornamental domesticated varieties of the common carp Cyprinus carpio.

Origins
They are believed to have originated from Eastern Asia. Earliest records of Koi have been found in China and have been widely spread in Korea and Japan. The ornamental cultivation of carp flourished under the Chinese Qing Dynasty, Korean Silla Dynasty, and Japanese Edo Period. They are very closely related to goldfish and, in fact, the style of breeding and ornamentation has become very similar, probably through the efforts of Japanese breeders to emulate goldfish.

Etymology
The word "koi" comes from the Japanese, simply meaning "carp." It includes both the dull grey fish and the brightly colored varieties. A homophone of koi means "love, affection" and koi are therefore symbols of love and friendship in Japan: a good example is the short story Koi-san by Mukoda Kuniko.

History
While a 4th century Chinese book of the Western Jin Dynasty mentions carp with various colors, koi breeding first became popular in the 19th century in the Niigata prefecture of Japan. Farmers working the rice fields would notice that some carp were more brightly colored than others, capture them, and raise them. By the 20th century, a number of color patterns had been established, most notably the red-and-white Kohaku. The outside world did not become aware of the degree of development until 1914, when the Niigata koi were exhibited in the annual exposition in Tokyo. At that point, interest in koi exploded throughout Japan. The hobby of keeping koi spread worldwide after plastic bags and shipping of koi became both fast and safe for the fish. These factors enabled koi to be shipped worldwide with low mortality rates. Koi are now commonly sold in most pet stores, with higher-quality fish available from specialist dealers.

Koi varieties are distinguished by coloration, patterning, and scalation. Ghost koi, developed in the 1980s are metallic hybrids of wild carp and Ogon koi and are not considered true Nishikigoi. Butterfly koi, Longfin koi, or Dragon Carp were also developed in the 1980s and are notable for their long and flowing fins. They are actually hybrids with Asian carp and, like Ghost koi, are not considered true Nishikigoi.

Varieties
Koi varietiesKoi have many different colors. Some of the major colors are white, black, red, yellow, blue, and cream.

While possible variations are limitless, breeders have identified and named a number of specific categories. The most popular category is Gosanke. The Gosanke category is made up of the Kohaku, Taisho Sanshoku, and Showa Sanshoku varieties. The Japanese breeders have many generations of knowledge and experience when it comes to breeding and raising Nishikigoi. They know which ones will be worth hundreds of dollars and which ones will be worth thousands of dollars.

The major named varieties include:

Kohaku - a white-skinned Koi, with a red pattern
Taisho Sanshoku (Sanke) - a white-skinned Koi with a red and black pattern
Showa Sanshoku (Showa) - a black-skinned Koi with a red and white pattern
Tancho - Any koi with the only red being in a circle on its forehead. The fish can be a Tancho Showa, Tancho Sanke, or even Tancho Goshiki
Asagi - a Koi with light blue scales on its top and red scales on its bottom
Shusui - the partially scaled version of an Asagi
Bekko - a white, red, or yellow-skinned Koi with a black pattern
Utsurimono - a black Koi with a red, white, or yellow pattern
Goshiki - a mostly black Koi with red, white, brown, and blue accents
Ogon - a Koi that is one solid color, can be regular or metallic; known colors - red, orange, platinum, yellow and cream
Kin Gin Rin - a Koi with shiny scales. The name translates into English as "Gold Silver Scales" There are also Gin Rin versions of almost any other type of koi.
Kawarimono (kawarigoi) - Miscellaneous types of Koi
Doitsu-goi - German Carp
Koromo - Koi with areas of blue-edged scales aligned neatly
Hikari-Moyomono - Koi with coloured patterns over a metallic base, and koi in two metallic colours
Ghost koi - "Hybrid" of Ogon and wild carp. Not Nishikigoi.
Butterfly koi - Long-finned version of all others. Not Nishikigoi.


Japanese koi in a backyard pond.
A group of several varieties of Koi.The common carp is a hardy fish, and koi retain that durability. Koi are cold-water fish, so it's advisable to have a meter or more of depth in areas of the world that become warm during the summer. In areas that get harsh winters, it is a good idea to have a pond that is a minimum of 1.5 meters (4 1/2 feet) deep so that it won't freeze solid. It is also a good idea to keep a space open with a bubbler and a horse trough heater.


Traditional Japanese garden with koi. Koi's bright colors put them at a severe disadvantage against predators; a white-skinned Kohaku is a visual dinner bell against the dark green of a pond. Herons, kingfishers, raccoons, cats, foxes, and badgers are all capable of emptying a pond of its fish. A well-designed outdoor pond will have areas too deep for herons to stand in, overhangs high enough above the water that mammals can't reach in, and shade trees overhead to block the view of aerial passers-by. It may prove necessary to string nets or wires above the surface. The pond should include a pump and filtration system to keep the water clear.

Koi are an omnivorous fish and will often eat a wide variety of foods, including peas, lettuce, and watermelon.[1] Koi food is designed not only to be nutritionally balanced, but also to float so as to encourage them to come to the surface. When they are eating, it is possible to check them for parasites and ulcers. Koi will recognize the person feeding them and gather around at dinnertime. They can even be trained to take the food from one's hand. In the winter their digestive system slows nearly to a halt, and they eat very little, perhaps no more than nibbles of algae from the bottom. Their appetite will not come back until the water warms up in the spring. When the temperature drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 °C), feeding, particularly with protein, should be halted or the food can go rancid in their stomach causing sickness.

If kept properly, koi can live about 30–40 years. Some have reportedly lived up to 200 years.[2]


Culturing
Koi in JapanLike most fish, koi reproduce through spawning in which a female lays a vast number of eggs and one or more males fertilize them. Nurturing the resulting offspring (referred to as "fry") is a tricky and tedious job, usually done only by professionals. Although a koi breeder may carefully select the parents they wish based on their desired characteristics, the resulting fry will nonetheless exhibit a wide range of color and quality.

Unlike a purebred dog or cat, even the finest champion-grade koi will produce literally thousands of unacceptable, unrecognizable, or even genetically defective offspring in a single spawning. These (and hundreds of marginal offspring) are culled at various stages based on the breeder's expert eye and closely guarded techniques.

Culled fry are usually destroyed (perhaps fed to other fish) and older culls are often sold as lower-grade "pond-quality" koi within their first year (also called "Tosai") at 3"–6" long. The semi-randomized result of the koi's reproductive process is both a blessing and a curse. While it requires diligent oversight to narrow down the favorable result that the breeder wanted all along, it also made possible the gradual transformation of wild river carp into the exquisite art form seen in modern nishikigoi.


In the wild
Koi have been accidentally or deliberately released into the wild in every continent except Antarctica. They greatly increase the turbidity of the water because they are constantly stirring up the substrate. This makes waterways unattractive, reduces the abundance of aquatic plants, and can render the water unsuitable for swimming or drinking even by livestock. In some countries, koi have caused so much damage to waterways that vast amounts of money and effort have been spent trying to eradicate them, largely unsuccessfully.