A Little Intro to Beautiful Japanese Tattoos

As we know one of the places where tattooing is heavily practiced as a beautiful art form and with the greatest skills level is Japan. The history of tattooing there dates back to the fifth century where historians found clay figurines (haniwa) in a grave that show distinct facial marks. These marks are believed to be early forms of tattoos that represent decorative and religious functions.

Unfortunately this early form of Japanese tattooing largely died out by the end of the fifth century and tattooing was revived only in the thirteenth century as a way of marking criminals and other social desirables. Interestingly, the practice of labeling criminals using tattoos was also practiced in many other countries, notable in neighboring areas as we collectively known as China today.

Early Times of Tattooing

Tattooing is probably one of the only industries that have been around longer than the sex industry. It has had a similar amount of criticism as well, if not maybe more. Evidence of tools used for tattooing have been found dating back to 10,000-30,000 B.C.. If you have any older relatives that want to give you any grief for getting a tattoo, just remind them that somewhere back further in the family tree, probably thousands of years, one of your relatives was probably getting tattooed by the campfire.

The Rich History of Japanese Tattoo Designs

The koi have long been a part of the Japanese life. At almost every temple and sacred place there is a small koi pond. The koi also know as Carp fish is known throughout China and Japan. Originally the story came from Buddhist teachings in Chine where it was believed the koi fish would swim upstream and go against the current and even up a waterfall. The myth states that any koi fish that could swim up the Yellow river and up the waterfall at the mythical place called Dragon Gate would then turn into a dragon. Therefore in China the koi fish would stand for strength and power and advancement. This same idealism was adopted throughout Japan. It was adopted in Japan to such a degree that it has become a part of their daily life and ritual. In fact large flags of koi fish are flown on Boy's Day to celebrate the strength, energy and power that boys should posses

Koi Tattoo Meaning and Symbolism

The meaning of this symbol has become so much that it can be hard to communicate it in one paragraph. It can stand for many different things. For example on Boy's Day in Japan a group of at least four koi fish and often flown together on a flag pole. Thus the fish can be thought of as a symbol of for family strength and unity. Since the legend states that koi fish would swim up stream it has also symbolic of power, struggle and overcoming the odds in life. In the same vein it is also a symbol of courage. The Japanese believe that the koi fish is so courageous that when it is caught and put on the cutting board to be killed it doesn't quiver like other fish but it bravely accepts it death and its fate as a person especially someone with a Samurai spirit should accept their life and its short falls.

The Mystical Japanese Tattoo Symbols

Due to the popularity of body art many art lovers have tried to ink the Japanese tattoo symbols in their body. During the early years, when you are in Japan, you would have tattoos of the people you would think that are associated to Yakuza, which is known to be a group of notorious Japanese criminals. But over the years, Japan has developed and the significance of body art is greatly appreciated. Presently, both the tattoo lovers and tattoo artists find the Japanese symbols attractive.

Examples of Favorite Japanese Symbols

1. Koi Fish - This is one of the most sought Japanese symbols used even for non-Japanese. If you visit Japan you will notice that most of the temples have Koi fish symbol. This is because the fish signifies strong determination that is very significant to the people of Japan. Likewise, the Koi fish is also a symbol of uncompromising bravery.

Moreover, Koi fish is one of the many symbols that are used by men on their arms, back, calf areas and shoulders. Some inked this symbol in full sleeve designs while others choose the large koi tattoos. On the hand, women prefer to ink the tattoo on their arms, stomach areas and hips. The good thing about this symbol is that the color harmonizes with any skin tone.

2. Cherry Blossoms - This flower symbolizes life and is comparable to beauty. The essential characteristic of cherry blossoms that makes it an important symbol is its ability to thrive in any weather condition though it is also delicate. In this sense, it implies that living life to the fullest is very important for us to see the beauty of life. On the other hand, living life to the fullest does not mean that we take for granted the possibility of death. That is why it is necessary that we live life on its very meaning.

3. Hannya Masks - This mask has a demonic look that was originated in Japan's Kabuki stage play. It symbolizes jealous and hatred but Japanese believed that inking this symbol in their body would beget good fortune and keep away evil spirits.

Before you decide to pick any Japanese tattoo symbols make sure to know first its meaning as well as what it stands for. In this way you will be confident to flaunt your body art without worrying if anyone asks you what its significance is. Moreover, you should also keep in mind that this body art would reflect your personality and it serves as self representation. Likewise, tattoo does not only add attraction but also used for sentimental reasons.

Find Your Dream Japanese Tattoo

Are you looking for a tattoo that really lets you express yourself? One of the most popular types of tattoos are the ones with Japanese designs or Japanese characters. Tattooing for spiritual and decorative purposes in Japan is thought to extend back to at least around 10,000 B.C. In Japan they use the word Irezumi which refers to the insertion of ink under the skin to leave a permanent, usually decorative mark. Tattoos have had many purposes throughout Japan's history. One of the negative ways it was used was when it was put on criminals as a punishment. However this was done during Japan's early years. Tattoos in the modern age is mostly for decorative purposes. For many years tattooing was associated with Japan's mafia, known as the Yakuza. Their tattoos world cover most of their body but nowadays they have chosen to get smaller, more Western style of tattoos in order to keep their associations secret.

Japanese Tattoo Art - History and Transitions

According to historians, the tattoo making in Japan was a strong influence by the Chinese culture. During the early years tattoo making is just a tradition done by Ainu people who used facial tattoos. When Buddhism became prevalent in Japan this form of body art had gained negative connotations because the tattoo is used to identify criminals as a form of punishment.

Japanese Tattoos- Way Beyond Flash

While the art of Japanese tattooing, or irezumi, is said have continued for a hundred centuries, the introduction of the Buddhist faith to Japan discouraged its widespread use. The Chinese, who brought Buddhism to Japan, abhorred the art of tattooing, and their influence made its way to the upper classes of Japan.

From the early seventeenth to late nineteenth centuries, during Japan's Edo Period, Japanese tattoos were most often seen on Japanese prostitutes, who used them to entice customers; Japanese firemen were known for their remarkable horimono, or full body tattoos which were quite unlike any other tattoos in the world. The firefighters regarded their tattoos as signs of brotherhood and masculinity.

Japanese Tattoos - A Brief History

The traditional Japanese tattoos known as 'horimono' became very popular among the people of the 18th century or the Edo period. The most popular choices for the designs of the tattoos were the images from traditional water color paintings, picture books and woodcuts. Understanding the history and background is as important to experience and enjoy the Japanese horimono tattoos as it is to preserve their traditions.

The Edo period was like a period of Cultural Revolution for the Japanese. There were many changes that happened during that period at different levels of the society. A different class of people grew up out of the ordinary people of Japan, who found lot of interests in fashion, comedy, drama, novels, songs, and theatre. So, a unique and separate culture began to grow up.

Tattoo Art in Modern Japan

A number of younger individuals may well think about tattooing being cool, the majority of the Japanese population still considers it while something connected to the gangland of mafia gangsters and a rough low caste tradition at the finest. Younger folks who consider tattoos as iki - a marginal amongst Japanese youth - tend to use partial tattoos inside Western style on the persons upper arms, someplace it is not directly visible.

Japanese Tattoo Prints

In 1827 the ukiyo-e artist Kuniyoshi Utagawa published the original 6 emblems of the 108 Heroes of the Suikoden. The Suikoden were something like ancient Robin Hoods - honourable bandits. The story is based on a classic Chinese novel - Shui-Hi-Chuan, which dates from the 13th and 14th century. The novel was initially translated into Japanese in 1757 by Okajima Kanzanion. By the turn of the 18th to the 19th century the story was available with illustrations by Katsushika Hokusai. The novel of the 108 honourable bandits was extremely accepted in the sphere of Japan and created a kind of Suikoden trend amongst Japanese towns inhabitants.

Kuniyoshi's Suikoden ukiyo-e emblems bare the heroes in colourful, detailed body tattoos. Japanese ink prints and tattoo drawings in general subsequently became stylish. Tattoos were considered iki - cool - however were restricted to the poorer classes.

The richness and fantasy of the Japanese tattoo print emblems revealed by Kuniyoshi are used by a few ink artists up to this moment.

Tattoos in the Edo Period

In the Edo period - 1603-1868 - Japanese tattoo drawings became a part of ukiyo-e - the suspended world culture. Prostitutes - yujos - of the pleasure quarters used tattoos to improve the individuals prettiness for customers. Skin tattoos were furthermore used by labourers and firemen.

From 1720 on, the tattooing of criminals became an legitimate punishment and replaced taking away of the nose and the ears. The criminal received a ring ink around the arm in support of every offence or else a character ink on his temple. Tattooing criminals was continued until 1870, at what time it was abolished by the new Meiji government of the Japanese Emperor.

This visible punishment produced a further genre of outcasts which had no place taking part in society and nowhere to go. A lot of these outlaws were ronin - master less samurai warriors. They had no alternatives than organizing gangs. These men created the start of the yakuza - the controlled criminals inside Japan inside the twentieth century.

The History of Japanese Tattoo Art

Archaeologists believe that the initial settlers of Japan, the Ainu citizens, used facial tattoos. Chinese papers tell concerning the Wa inhabitants - the Chinese name meant for their Japanese neighbours - and the individuals lifestyle of diving into water for fish and shells and decorating the total skin with tattoos. These reports are in the region of 1700 years old.

For the top developed Chinese culture, tattooing was a barbaric undertaking. As soon as Buddhism was brought from China to Japan and with it the solid influence of the Chinese culture, tattooing got harmful connotations. Criminals were marked with tattoos to punish and identify them within society.

dragon tribal tattoo designs

The good luck stems from the fact that the Japanese dragon is a "water symbol", living either in the clouds, climbing down during thunderstorms, or in rivers and lakes. Water is an element of enormous importance for the cultivation of rice in both China and Japan so, because of its ability to bring down the rain, it was revered. Thus dragons are highly respected and admired in both China and Japan. In the Western Culture however, because of the association with the snake, the dragon symbolises evil and they were routinely hunted down, fought and killed.

It is important to keep the dragon happy because, after all, it could easily cause a seaquake or thunderstorm if annoyed. One of the most famous and most tattooed dragon legends, apart from the display of the Buddhist gods of wind and thunder (Fu-jin and Rai-jin) who are riding the dragons, is the Tamatori Hime. According to legend, Japanese dragons are believed to take up the shape of humans and are even considered capable of mating with humans. The age-old enemy of the dragon is the phoenix and sometimes a bird-man creature called Karura.

The Dragon Tattoo

The most well known and most popular mythical creature depicted in tattoos is the Japanese dragon. It is more popular than any of the other mythical creatures, such as the phoenix, mermaid or gryphon. This may be due to its shape because the long and flexible dragon that descends from Japanese tattoo traditions practically fits on every part of the body - covering full backs, winding himself around arms or coiling up on the chest of the carrier.

The Japanese dragon is usually depicted as a wingless, heavily scaled snake-like creature with small, clawed legs and a camel shaped head with horns. It is associated with sea, clouds or the heavens. It has whiskers and a beard, and it is deaf. In the West we think of dragons as terrifying beasts, but in Japan the dragon symbolises wealth, good fortune, good luck, kindness, power and freedom.

The Tattoo As a Part of Underworld Gangsters

Japan is also known for underworld gangsters like Yakuza for example. In the past, tattoos are illegal to Japanese people and this thing was distinguished from the rest of the population. Although, there were people who have tattoos in their bodies, still authorities marked tattooed individuals as criminals. These individuals have discriminated the whole people in Japan. This is the main reason of forming underworld gangster known as "Yakuza".

Japanese Tattoo Art

The land of the rising sun, that's how people describe Japan. This is where different types of people are situated, from popular celebrities, electronic experts, robots and gangsters. In addition to that, culture and tradition have a huge influence in their everyday living. The Japanese are also excellent when it comes to visual designs. One of the popular designs used until now is the Japanese tattoo art.