The Japanese evaluate Koi carp by looking at them from the top. Imagine that the
dorsal fin represents part of the mid-line along the back by which Koi are
measured. This is a difficult judgement to make. The red colour should basically
balance along this imaginary centre line along the back.
Another point of interest as far as Koi lovers are concerned is whether the red
markings on the back are connected or are separated. When the markings are
connected from the head to the tail in a continuous pattern, they are given special
names by the Japanese. The main thing to understand is that the pattern should be
beautiful. The pattern should also be meaningful. Sometimes when there are three
or four large separate markings called "steps," they remind Japanese people of the
stones they put in their garden stepping over the muddy ground to get into the
house without getting their shoes dirty. Usually a continuous red pattern from head
to tail is boring and is not very valuable. If, however, the red is jagged rather than
straight, this is then called an "Inazuma," which means lightning shape. The pattern
must be irregular to be attractive, and must be interesting. Psychologists who ask
us to interpret ink blotches can have a great time getting interpretations from some
of the designs on the backs of Koi!
The concept of balance of these markings is something that comes from
experience. Fish are judged by this balance. There are no two judges in the world
that would probably grade each fish exactly the same way. The same is true of cat
shows, dog shows, and horse shows. However, with dogs, cats, and horses, as well
as many birds, they breed almost 100% true. Thus, if you take true white horses
and breed them together, you would expect to get all white horses as a result.
However, it is quite possible, for example, that if you breed two silver poodles
together, you might get a black poodle, a silver poodle, or a brown poodle. This is
exactly what happened to my silver poodle when I bred her to another silver poodle.
Genetics of Koi is very complex, too. Thus, when Koi are bred to each other, you
are not exactly sure what is going to come out, but the Kohaku colour, that is red
blotches on white, is fairly consistent though the pattern of these blotches, the
location and the intensity and size are variable and do not necessarily result from
the quality of the parents.
According to present standards, Kohaku must have a red marking on its head. As a
matter of fact, there is even a variety of Kohaku, which is a separate groping known
as the Tancho. A Tancho Kohaku is a fish, which is pure white and has only a red
spot on its head. These fish are very valuable but the white must be very, very white,
and the red must be very intense and almost circular in most cases.. In this
connection, it is the taxophilic urge that is at the root of our aesthetic behaviour.
There is no other biological way to account for the response of people who can be
found standing silently in front of paintings in an art gallery, or sitting quietly listening
to music, or watching dancing, or viewing sculpture, or gazing at garden flowers, or
wandering through landscapes, or tasting wines.
