The Legend of Dragon's Gate (and why it's good luck to keep koi)

Many people believe that keeping koi in your home brings good luck. But what few realize is that good luck doesn't happen all by itself; one has to deserve it. Here is a fascinating legend from China, which I believe explains why koi are thought to make auspicious pets, and why simply having koi in your home will NOT make you a millionaire.


On the western border of China's Shanxi Province is a 12-mile-long gorge where steep cliffs force the normally slow-moving waters of the great Yellow River through gaps as narrow as 50 feet, turning them into raging waterfalls. These falls, known as "Dragon's Gate" is the setting of an enchanting Chinese legend that explains why keeping koi fish is thought to be auspicious in many parts of the world.

The legend goes that long ago, the supreme god of the heavens--known as the Yellow Emperor--was greatly displeased with man's wicked ways, and ordered the rain god to flood the earth and drown every living thing. As the people perished by the thousands, the Yellow Emperor's grandson, Kun, pleaded with his grandfather to stop the carnage. But the supreme god refused. Overcome with pity for mankind, Kun stole into his grandfather's treasure house and took some "magic mud". He then came down to earth and sprinkled the magic mud about. Upon landing, the magic mud instantly grew, creating dry land on which the drowning people could take refuge. Naturally, this angered the Yellow Emperor, who sent the fire god to strike down his errant grandson. As the fire god approached, Kun disguised himself as a white horse, hoping to escape with his life. But it was all in vain; the fire god saw through the disguise and speared Kun with a lightning bolt. Kun fell to the ground, lifeless.

Ages passed and the flooding of the earth continued, until one day a golden dragon emerged from the belly of the white horse that was once Kun. The dragon, named Yu, immediately flew to the heavens to plead with his great grandfather to have pity on mankind, just as Kun did. Finally, the Yellow Emperor relented and ordered Yu to take some magic mud and dry up the floods on earth. Yu did as ordered, and before long there was only mud and the seas covering the earth. Pleased with his work, Yu then began creating rivers by plowing furrows across the mud, from the mountains to the sea. In most places, it was easy, as the mud was soft. But when he came to where rocky cliffs stood in the way, Yu had to double his efforts to create gorges through which the river (which eventually came to be known as the Yellow River) can flow. In doing so, he created a belt of waterfalls hundreds of feet high. It was then that Yu declared the place sacred to dragons, and called it Dragon's Gate.

From that moment on, every springtime the fishes living in the Yellow River--particularly wild carp--would swim upstream by the thousands, and attempt to leap over the falls. It takes enormous strength, perseverance and skill to achieve this feat, and it is believed that only one in several hundred are able to do so. Those that do are rewarded by being transformed into dragons, continuing their leap through the clouds and into the heavens.

Because of this legend, the colorful, domesticated cousin of the wild carp--the koi--has become a symbol of hard work, patience and determination--all of which are necessary if one is to merit good fortune. And that's how several cultures around the world came to believe that keeping koi attracts good luck.