Japanese Tattoo Tradition

Japanese Tattoo Tradition Kanji Tattoos

Today, everybody has at least an idea of what a kanji character is. Not that any of us would be able to read and understand the meaning of a particular kanji symbol, but everyone has at least already heard about kanji. That's because of the increasingly popularity of the so called Kanji tattoos.

The western countries have found out how beautiful eastern languages can be, as we all started getting exotic characters inked on our skin.

Chinese, Japanese, Arabian and many other different foreign languages are being more and more translated into the international art of tattooing. Japan tattoos are most beloved for their beauty and powerful symbolism.

Kanji is one of the three "alphabet system" (which is not correct, as it can be hardly defined an alphabet) used in Japan written language.

The written Japan is made up of four different character systems: Kanji, Katakana, Hiragana and Romaji, which is the way they call the Latin alphabet.

Learning to write Japan means to learn all of these systems. The number of characters the Japan written language consists in is incalculable. Only in the Kanji system the number of possible characters is disputed: between 50.000 and 80.000 symbols!!!

Of course not all of these characters are commonly used; most of those fifty thousands consist of obscure variations nobody would ever use.

Another particular aspect of the Kanji characters, often categorized in tattoo websites under Japan tattoo designs, is that they are not really a Japan product. They were used many, many years before in China, where they were invented. The first sign of such characters in Japan goes back to the 57 AD. At that time, the Japanese language itself had no written form at all.

Japanese Tattoo Designs For Girls

Sexy Hot and Traditional Japanese Tattoo Designs For Girls Feminine Tattoo Ideas

Typically when a person thinks of a traditional Japanese tattoo the images that come to mind are the full body tattoo designs of the Yakuza. However, the world of tattoos has changed rapidly over the last tens years in the United States and tattooing trends around the world have changed also. In the West many women are discovering the rich beauty of traditional Japanese designs and these work well and are ideal for feminine tattoo ideas. So if you are looking for some type of Japanese tattoo designs for girls then this article will help you identify some of the best ideas to start from.

Koi Fish Tattoos

Koi fish are a very traditional and yet very popular, sexy and beautiful design in Japan. The beauty of the fish and the brilliant colors of the orange in the fish along with the water splashing in the background make for an incredible design combination. Not only is the coloration beautiful the meaning and symbolism behind koi designs is also very empowering. The myth essentially states that the koi fish swim upstream against the current and finally reach the top gate into heave and then are released and become beautiful dragons and fly off. The symbolism is one of strength, power and striking out on your own and living your own life. This is something many women fell passionate and strong about and therefore the koi fish is the perfect design. This can be done as a half sleeve tattoo a sexy leg tattoo or even on the back.

Cherry Blossom Tattoos

Cherry blossoms have also been used throughout traditional Japanese tattooing. Originally cherry blossoms were a revered flower and a symbol that many samurai held close to the hearts. In fact many of the most famous samurai would write poems about the cherry blossom. They felt it represented life and symbolized the temporary existence of life. It therefore acted as a very powerful reminder and symbol to live each day to the fullest since life ends quickly and is delicate like the cherry blossom. Again this is a wonderful symbol that is full of meaning. It looks beautiful and delicate as well as has power behind it. They also can make a great tattoo design. You can choose to do a large tattoo design of the whole cherry blossom tree, just a branch of even just the fallen petals in the snow or water all very deeply symbolic and beautiful.

Geisha Tattoo Designs

Last but not least something that everyone has of course heard about Japan is the Geisha. The Geisha in Japan are seen to be entertainers and the holders of the culture. They were and still are trained in the arts, including calligraphy, music and dance to just name a few. In fact the very word Geisha means " a person of the arts:. They are highly intelligent and incredible conversationalists. Many of the most traditional woodcut artwork featured the Geisha in what was called the "floating world". Many of these designs found their way into the art of tattooing early on also. The Geisha tattoo can symbolize exotic beauty, feminine power and mystique. Thus is also a symbol that speaks to many women.

Japanese Tattoo Designs For Women

Japanese Tattoo Designs For Women Hot Sexy and Cute Tattoos For Girls With an Air of Mystery

Japanese tattoo designs have been experiencing a real revival in recent years and with the beautiful designs it is easy to see why. The Japanese have been doing tattoos for thousands of years and they have developed an some of the most beautiful designs and tattoo themes ever. If you are thinking about getting a Japanese tattoo design for women then here are some ideas and guidance that will help you in making your decision.

The History
Of course tattooing has long been a tradition in Japan. However, it was not until recent years that tattoos in Japan and their designs really came into acceptance. Way back in the days of Samurai's tattoos were used to brand criminals. This branding of criminals continued down into the Yakuza (Japanese Gangs) choosing to tattoo themselves as a mark of the chosen lifestyle. In more recent years though the young in Japan are not getting tattoos even though they don't belong to Yakuza. Tattoos are kind of going through a rebirth of sorts in Japan and they are becoming more widely acceptable as they have here in the US.

Japanese Tattoo Designs For Women
Here are some of the top designs that work very well for the female body. Of course any design is open to get by any female. A person is free to choose any design they want and a lady could get a huge samurai on their back if they want. However, these themes below tend to be favored by women.

Cherry Blossom Tattoos
Cherry blossoms are a beautiful flower that blooms from the cherry tree typically in April. These beautiful flowers have long been a passion for the Japan in general. They are symbolic of how fragile and beautiful life can be. Often the Samurai would write poems about Cherry Blossoms and they thought of the blossoms as being brave and ready to die at any minute. That is how the Samurai lived their life all the time. So the cherry blossom is a symbol of beauty first and foremost but it also symbolize living life to its fullest each and every day.

Geisha The Oriental Pinup
Another popular and traditional theme in Japanese tattoos are Geisha. These women were not the prostitutes or hookers but rather women of culture and refinement that were seen to carry the traditions of the culture. They were often extremely beautiful and talented women they could sing, play traditional instruments, dance and entertain. There of course are tons of traditional woodcuts that feature the "floating world" where the Samurai and Geisha would meet. Many of these woodcuts and themes have been done in tattoo designs. If you are looking for a strong female image then you could always get a design of a samurai's wife who were traditionally trained in martial arts and expected to defend their home if needed.

Koi Fish
Koi fish have long been a symbol for perseverance and spiritual struggle throughout Japan and China. The myth is that the koi fish swim up stream to reach the heavily gate where they then become a flying dragon and fly off into the sky. These beautiful fish are seen to be fighters and individualists since they go against the flow of the stream and they fight their way to the top. This is a powerful symbol and a very beautiful tattoo design. With the golden and orange colors of the fish combined with the blue splashing water in the background it is a very beautiful combination.

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.

Some of the most popular images in Japanese tattoos are the mythological beasts such as dragons, kirin and phoenixes. Other real animals include tigers and snakes. Some get tattoos in the form of different flower types like the peonies, cherry blossoms, lotuses, chrysanthemums and other plants like bamboo and maple leaves. Some people have the images of the samurai or the geisha. Others may have images of Buddhist deities. There are some tattoos that have the backgrounds of clouds and waves.

Japanese Sleeve Tattoos

A lot of guys out there these days are looking for something unique different and cool looking. Often guys get skulls, flames and sexy pinup girls as a sleeve tattoo design. However, recently there has been more and more men interested in Japanese sleeve tattoos. This is great because the Japanese have a long history of full body tattoos and therefore they are very advanced in their sleeve tattoos. These designs are cool and they make a great tattoo design for men also. Here are some ideas to help you get started on your own full sleeve tattoo design.

Koi Fish

Koi fish are an ever popular theme for sleeve tattoo designs. The beautiful oranges of the koi fish and the blue water background lend themselves to the perfect tattoo design for a sleeve. By wrapping the fish around the front of the arm the fish looks dimensional and really pops out and comes to life. Thus it makes a cool looking tattoo with a lot of life. However, more then that the Koi tattoo represent strength, power and individuality. It represents the struggle of going through life and striving to be better. You see the Japanese myth is that the koi fish try to swim upstream. Not all of them make it but the ones that make it to the golden bridge become dragons and fly off into the sky. This is a way cool symbolism and a deep meaning and the chicks will go wild with how thoughtful and deeply emotional you are when you show off your tat and explain why you got it and the dudes in the group will admire it as well.

Dragons

Of course there is always the dragon. This is only second to the koi fish because dragons have been so common place. However, a powerful fierce dragon in red or black makes for the ideal tattoo design for men. It looks rough and tumble and ready to throw down or just breathe fire on a person. The dragon is a very mystical and mythical beast that is filled with all kinds of magic and great lore. The symbolism is of course of power and strength.

Popular Japanese Tattoo Meanings Symbolism

There has been a phenomenal growth of traditional Japanese tattoo designs in the past few years. It used to be that tattoos were relegated to the Yakuza or Japanese gangs and the criminals in the society. Just the site of a tattoo used to and still can strike fear into people. However, Japan is a rapidly changing country and they are starting to see the value in tattoos and more and more people have a deep respect for them. For most tattoo artists and tattoo enthusiasts alike Japanese designs have always been sought after. Here are some Japanese tattoo meanings and design ideas to help give you a guide of some possibilities if you are interested in getting such a design.

Cherry Blossom Tattoos

For the Japanese the cherry blossom is seen to represent life itself. The flower is a thing of great beauty. It is strong in that is pushes itself and blooms in harsh conditions and climates and often comes out when the snow is first melting. Yet it is paradoxically fragile at the same time. It is fragile because it will only last a few days and then it will fall from the tree and land in the snow. The Japanese view this as a representation of life itself. Life should be lived to extreme beauty and everyday should be lived to it's fullest. Yet one must always be aware of the possibility of death and therefore with the eventuality of death live life even more fully. This is a great tattoo and a symbol that is laden with powerful reminders and a great guide to how each individual should live their life.

Koi Fish Tattoos

Koi fish are probably the second most powerful symbol in tattoo designs in general but also fro the Japanese. Koi fish can been seen in front of almost every temple throughout Japan. The myth states that the Koi fish swim back up stream against the current to eventually read a bridge or a gate. If they can make it to the gate they are turned into dragons and magically fly away to start a new life. The symbolism behind this design is one of perseverance which is a very deep and important concept for the Japanese. In fact they have many more words to describe perseverance, effort and sticking with something in the language then we do in English.

the Fascinating History Behind Japanese Tattoo Symbols

The history behind Japanese tattoo designs is believed to have started around 5000 BC. Japanese men, women of young or old age used to tattoo themselves with some religious themes in that period. In Chinese tradition, tattooing was practiced to outcast someone or to punish a criminal, so it was new to the Chinese when they knew that the Japanese used tattooing for decorative purposes.

Around the year of 700 AD, attitudes towards tattoos changed and tattooing had become unpopular in Japan. It was treated as the symbol of criminals and as a way to punish guilty persons. It was a way to treat them differently and to outcast them from society. It was declared by the rulers then as an illegal activity for common people to tattoo themselves. Family members segregated their fellow members if he or she got a tattoo design on his or her body.

Even though getting a tattoo became illegal, there were still people who were passionate about getting one. They got themselves tattooed in places of the body that would not be visible to others, to prevent getting punished and to prevent themselves getting separated from their community or their group.
As the number of persons getting tattoos reduced, the popularity of the native designs and techniques started to fade. Only a few tattoo designers were still able to continue their tattooing work and most of those that were skilled found different jobs.

Secret shops were opened to serve those individuals who were passionate to get tattooed. After World War II, tattooing was declared as a legal activity and anyone who wished to get tattooed could act according to their wish without hiding from the general public. Japanese tattoo designs got a chance to flourish and even the Western world started to notice the appeal of these designs and tattooing techniques.

When we get to learn the history behind Japanese tattoo designs, we understand how the perspective towards tattooing changed from the purposes of decoration to the purpose of punishment and then back to decorative accessories.

Japanese Tattoo Symbols

If you are looking for a tattoo design, you may be thinking of using a Japanese tattoo symbol. If you are thinking about a Japanese tattoo you can choose from a traditional tattoo design, which is more like a picture or you could choose a tattoo symbol that represents a name or a particular word that has a special meaning to you.

Japanese tattoos are called 'Irezumi' in Japanese. There is a long history of tattoo art in Japan. The traditional kind of tattoo designs can be very extensive and cover the arms, shoulders and back or even the whole body. The designs tend to be elaborate and include snakes, dragons, koi fish or even flowers. As the designs can cover a large part of the body, it can often take many sessions to complete the art and cost a large amount of money. In Japanese these kinds of designs can be associated with the Yakuza (Japanese mafia) and so they are not favoured by most people.

An alternative to a traditional Japanese tattoo design is to use a symbol used in Japanese writing. The first thing to know if you are considering a symbol tattoo is that there are three writing systems in Japan, hiragana, katakana and kanji. Hiragana are used for parts of speech, word endings and words that can not be represented in Kanji. Katakana is used for foreign words and foreign names. Kanji are adapted originally from Chinese characters and is the most complicated of all the writing systems.

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