Meaning of Japanese tattoos. Japanese tattoos and their meaning

The origin and development of tattoo art in Japan

According to the most popular version, the tattoo came to Japan in the 5th century. BC. from China, where this art has been developed for 6 centuries. In the 3rd century AD travelers from the Celestial Empire who arrived in Japan noted that representatives of noble families can be distinguished from ordinary people because they have drawings on their faces. According to another version, tattoo traditions came to Japan from the most ancient times thanks to the Ainu people, who lived next to the Japanese from 7000 to 250 BC. In a very famous legend among the inhabitants of Japan, it is told that the mythological ruler of the Land of the Rising Sun, Jimmu (660-585 BC), had such beautiful tattoos that he struck the famous beautiful queen Senoyatatara, who composed a poem in their honor. For this reason, in Japan until the 6th century BC. only emperors could decorate their bodies with tattoo designs, and only some time later tattoos began to appear on representatives of other social groups. I must say that the first Japanese tattoo work was done not with needles, but with plant thorns.

Tattoo artists in Japan have always had a special relationship, as they were considered real artists. One version says that initially tattooists worked together with engravers, who made sketches on the body, and tattoo artists scored them. From the other, you can find out that the tattoo artists were the same engravers who changed the type of activity. But be that as it may, the training procedure was very similar: for 5 years, the student worked as an apprentice, was engaged in mopping, mixing ink and, most importantly, studying classical drawing.

The Kojiki, one of Japan's first written records, talks about two types of tattoos. The first kind was sign of representatives of the nobility, and tattoos of the second type marked criminals. At the beginning of the Kofun era (4-6 centuries AD), tattoos did not find public censure. But in the middle of this period, attitudes towards them changed dramatically. A number of studies report that tattoo designs were signs of social outcasts. The hieroglyph “dog” was painted on the forehead of traitors, and such a person was perceived by society as a complete outcast.

By the end of the 17th century, tattoos in Japan began decorate their bodies priests and geishas. One of the landmark innovations in 1720 was the practice of tattooing as punishment which replaced the chopping off of the nose and ears. At the same time, the samurai were free from this punishment. Tattoos were applied to such criminals as extortionists, scammers, as well as people involved in forging documents and banknotes. The attackers were tattooed on their arm in the form of a black ring for each atrocity. This practice was used for a century and a half - until 1870.

In the 18th century, applying a beautiful tattoo becomes one of the ways attracting clients from courtesans. Oiran and tayu, with the help of tattoos, could circumvent the law, which forbade showing a naked body. Beautiful tattoo designs acted as a substitute for clothing, and the girl became even more desirable. In this case, only the face, feet and palms were free from tattoos. Sometimes a feeling flared up between the courtesan and her client, and then they made joint tattoos. For example, as proof of fidelity, tattoos were made on the arms in the form of moles. Lovers also applied each other's names along with the hieroglyph for the word "fate".

The art of tattooing also spread thanks to the famous theater actors, who saw in it an unusual method of achieving expression in the performance process. In the second half of the 18th century, the cult actor Nakamura Utaemon IV had one of the most luxurious tattoos. Over time, some representatives of the nobility began to take an example from the actors.

Time on the border of the 18th and 19th centuries is the era heyday of Japanese style in tattooing. The works of the masters were no longer just decoration, but carried with them a deep meaning.
Samurai tattooed sakura and chrysanthemum, demonstrating that they are ready to die during the battle at any moment, as they have sufficient determination. Cherry and its short life symbolized the transience of human existence. And the life path of a samurai was comparable to cherry blossoms.

And just the samurai were the first to apply tattoos to the whole body. And such a tradition was born thanks to their outfit - jinbaori- a military sleeveless tunic. Therefore, instead of sleeves, tattoos were made, symbolizing heroism, valor and the fight against enemies.

Yakuza tattoos

The first yakuza used tattoos to show status. The Yakuza perceived tattooing as a test of fortitude, since this procedure in those days was very long and rather painful. In addition, the yakuza in the Edo era began to treat tattoos as an element of their outfit. The yakuza who became the owner of a tattoo was subjected to a ritual of exclusion from the membership of civil society and automatic entry into a separate community. After that, the yakuza could no longer marry a girl from a "normal" family, he was not hired to work in an institution, of course, if he was not controlled by a criminal group.
The most popular among the Yakuza were the following tattoos:

"Kintaro"- drawing of a mythical character, soacha, fighting with a huge carp.

"Kyumoryu Shishin"- a tattooed hero in a Chinese outfit, which symbolizes combat abilities.

"Chou Jun"- a drawing of a hero with a knife in his teeth, symbolizing strength of mind and perfect possession of edged weapons.

Fudomyo- Buddhist mythical creature guarding treasures. Such a tattoo was received by the yakuza, who were engaged in smuggling.

Main motives

The Dragon

Speaking of general topics Japanese tattoos, the most widespread drawings depicting dragons. This mythological creature symbolizes strength and nobility. Such tattoos, due to their brightness, are most loved by young Japanese. Usually, dragon tattoos are done in the traditional nukibori style, in which the image is always outlined without transitions.

Tiger

As another popular hero of Japanese tattoos, tiger. Tigers have never been found in the Land of the Rising Sun, but the Japanese are very fond of this animal. This tattoo symbolizes strength, courage and power.

koi carp

The inhabitants of Japan have always had a popular marine theme, for this reason one of the main characters of tattoo designs is carp, which symbolizes masculinity and steadfastness. Read more about carp.

Sakura

It is known that Japanese women decorated themselves with tattoos on a par with men. This allowed them to emphasize beauty, grace, meekness, femininity. Favorite theme female tattoos there were various floral motifs, as well as sakura, symbolizing the value of every moment of life. In addition, drawing sakura allowed the fair sex to emphasize her fragility and, at the same time, female wisdom.

The Fu dog, which has also become known as the "Lion of Buddha", really looks more like a lion than a dog. This creature is considered a brave and staunch protector. Fu dog has a frightening appearance, as if preparing to attack his opponent in a jump. This tattoo means courage, justice and disinterestedness.

Fu dog is designed to protect family and home well-being. Such an image will save you from meeting bad people and will lead you away from getting into unpleasant situations. Fu dog has a subtle scent, and with this tattoo, luck will always be on your side.

Chania mask

Chania in the legends of Japan is a terrible demon with fangs and horns, under whose shell a vengeful girl is hiding. One of the most popular tattoo images, but, despite its appearance, it does not carry anything negative with it. There is a widespread version that this character came to Japan from Tibetan culture, like many other mythical creatures of the Land of the Rising Sun. It was originally the guardian of Buddhism, and "hanya" is a synonym for the word "prana" and means "wisdom". Often, next to the chanya mask, images of sakura flowers, a snake and a bell are made.

The Oni Demon is considered one of the most popular mythological characters in Japanese cosmology and usually has a frightening and cruel appearance. Most often, this is a horned creature, but at the same time, Oni can have a variety of physiognomic expressions. According to legend, the demon can take on human form. It is interesting that people themselves can become this creature if they often fall into anger. Despite its cruelty, the demon Oni sometimes becomes the protector of people. And his tattoo image also plays the role of a talisman, which can bring its owner a lot of health and physical strength.

Turtle

The turtle in the East Asian region in general, and in Japan in particular, is a truly legendary creature. At its core, the wise turtle, which also has the gift of healing, is a noble and positive talisman. In addition, the turtle symbolizes longevity, which increases its value as a tattoo image. The lifespan of these creatures can reach a hundred years. This quality is especially revered in the Land of the Rising Sun, where the turtle is perceived as the mistress of the seas and oceans.

Phoenix

This bird, with its spring appearance, symbolizes the fact that all phenomena and beings in the world do not disappear after death, but are reborn. That is, events are cyclical and constantly repeat. Therefore, you need to understand that everything in the world is interchangeable. The moment will come and the person will disappear to be reborn again. Maybe he will return to this earth in the form of his descendants, or maybe he will be reincarnated. This talisman was presented to people by the sun.

A tattoo image of a phoenix allows our spirit to find peace and get rid of the fear of death. The Japanese consider the phoenix as a spiritual symbol and use it as a kind of amulet.

peonies

These flowers were brought to Japan from China, where for many centuries they have symbolized prosperity, wealth and success. Therefore, there is nothing strange that among the Japanese, the peony is a symbol of prosperity and prosperity that will accompany the owner of this tattoo. But, if you plunge into history, it is easy to find out that the peony also symbolized feminine beauty and emotionality, as well as the ability to control their feelings. The owners of this tattoo could be not only the fair sex, but also men. This tattoo made it possible to suppress aggressiveness and anger, which only interfered in battles.

Execution tools

As for the work tool, Japanese craftsmen use bamboo sticks with needles at the end. Up to 4 needles may be needed to apply the image, and to fill its surface - a set of 30 connected needles, which is called "hari".

How are things now

It must be said that modern Japan is one of the few states in which the topic of tattoos is taboo today. This is explained by the fact that long-term tattoos were the privilege of Japanese mafia circles, and the authorities still continue to consider this art to be near-criminal.
But, in spite of everything, Japanese tattoo artists continue to do their job, passing their skills and knowledge from generation to generation. Both individual masters and salons and even family clans gained worldwide fame. Tattoo artists from other countries are gradually improving the quality of their work, but truly the classic way drawing Japanese tattoo owned only by masters from Japan within the clans.

Recently, tattoos made in neo Japanese style . "Neo-Japanese" work within the framework of traditional Japanese motives, but under a fairly strong influence of Western culture. Among the tattoo communities, the term "neo-Japanese style" is not generally accepted. It began to be used, first of all, in order to separate the Japanese style in tattooing before the Second World War and after. Today, the styles and techniques of tattoo art that were in use before the Second World War are still alive. However, after the decriminalization of tattooing in 1948, Japanese tattoo culture began to develop under the influence of Western trends. This allowed the Japanese style to spread throughout the world.

Video: the process of creating a neo-Japanese tattoo

Video: sketch development - Mask of Chania

Examples of tattoos and sketches in neo-Japanese style from Bloody wave studio

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Japanese style in tattoo: photo, sketches, meaning.

Japanese tattoo art

In the art of the East there is such a principle - the beautiful is the least accessible to the eye, the greatest effect is produced by what you rarely see. It is part of Japanese traditional culture, and without it, the Japanese would lose their sense of beauty. This principle applies to Japanese tattoos as well.

The history of Japanese tattoo artists

In the past, tattoos have been banned in Japan, with one unusual exception. Tattoos were allowed only for firefighters, so they decorated their bodies with very intricate designs. It was believed that in the event of the death of a firefighter, he could be identified by them. Everyone else, including civil servants and those who were involved in saving people, were forbidden to get tattoos by law. Images were also applied to the bodies of criminals and prisoners.

However, things changed in the 17th century. The reason for this was the abolition of markings with tattoos of criminals. Painted drawings on the body became allowed both among ordinary people and in yakuza clans. However, still wearing a tattoo in Japan is not encouraged.

The masters passed on the art of body painting to their students. In order to become a specialist, the student had to be a "shadow of the master" for several years, in other words, to learn this craft, being with the teacher all the time. It was only through long training that the technique of drawing images and understanding of which drawings were combined with each other and which were not mastered.

In traditional Japanese tattoo culture, there are many traditionally combined images. For example, lions, dragons and demons are located next to flowers, denoting the balance of strength and beauty.

Modern Japanese tattoo masters, as in old times, use the manual method of body painting, do not use electric tattoo devices.

Japanese tattoos and their meaning in Russian.

There are three types of Japanese tattoos: irezumi, gaman, and kakushi boro.

Irezumi (horimono). This word denoted images inherent in the yakuza. They covered the entire back, chest, arms and thighs. AT modern meaning Irezumi is just a tattoo in the Japanese style.

Irezumi

Gaman. Such tattoos were applied by noble men who wanted to show their power, courage and courage.

Kakushi boro is an unusual type of tattoo that was applied in the armpits or on the inner thigh only by women. This was usually done by filling cuts rice flour. Only the closest people could see such a tattoo, it became visible on the body, heated by love joys or after water procedures.

The plot of a Japanese tattoo is very important. Each component of the entire image must contain meaning and characterize the person with the tattoo. For example, a carp means happiness and prosperity, a rabbit means fertility, a tiger means courage and incredible power. Peonies are a sign of luck, sakura symbolizes the fragility of life, maple stands for love.

Japanese dragon tattoo

The most popular image in Japan is the dragon. In the tattoo of this country, the dragon has body parts of other animals, it can be the ears of a bull or a snake body. It is believed that this fabulous creature gives good luck, and if the dragon entangles the sword, then this means great strength.

Foreign tattoo artists often make gross mistakes due to the fact that they do not understand Japanese characters.

Japanese tattoo hieroglyphs

The most famous tattoos are the Japanese Kanji characters. This type of body painting has extraordinary beauty and diversity. Masterfully applied characters of the traditional calligraphic writing of the land of the rising sun can tell everything about yourself.

Meanings of kanji characters

In addition, images of fantastic animals are popular. It can be Koi fish, half-bull - half-dragon, which brings joy and wealth.

Video about Japanese tattoos

The video tells about the history of applying drawings on the skin in the style of the land of the rising sun.

Article genre - Japanese tattoos

It is proven that Japanese-style tattoos originated thousands of years ago, but during this time they have not squandered their popularity. In addition, such tattoos were considered especially influential, they were worn by high-ranking people such as the King of Denmark, Frederick IX and, according to unofficial data, Nicholas II.

By the way, there is currently an unwritten ban on tattoos in Japan. At least the authorities don't accept tattoos as art. It's all about stereotypes, according to which a person with a tattoo is considered a member of the mafia, doing dirty business.

Japan is a country with unusual traditions and symbolism, completely different from what we are used to. The local culture fascinates us, which is why, by painting our body in this style, we try to partially touch its mysteries.

The Japanese style cannot be overlooked, just one look at the stunning sketches is mesmerizing. Tattoos are the most popular Japanese dragon painted with bright colors. According to legend, the tattoo of a mythological creature is able to protect a person from fire. Often in this style you can see unusual combinations that combine the aggressiveness of animals and the serenity of colors in the pattern. This shows a person that everything in the world must be balanced.

The image of sakura on the body is also very symbolic. This gives an understanding that life is short, like a blossoming and suddenly falling sakura flower.

Masters of Japanese tattoo are real experts in their field. Before picking up a needle, you need to study every detail of the sketch, delve into the bottomless history of this culture.

The inhabitants of the Japanese islands were no different from other peoples. Therefore, the art of tattooing has also been popular here since ancient times. Japanese tattoos conveyed not only the spiritual principles of a person, the characteristics of his character, but also provided information about his social status and position in society.

Back full of Japanese style tattoos

The history of the development of Japanese tattoos

It should be noted that despite the prohibitions of the government to apply drawings on the body, the art of Japanese tattoos originated among the lower social categories of society. It is a well-known fact that palanquin carriers hid their naked bodies from view with tattoos depicting representatives of fauna and flora, as well as images of beautiful maidens.

It is interesting!

Irezumi (Japanese) - Ink injection. A particular type of tattoo that was popular among courtesans and their admirers. A striking example was applied in the area thumb moles, which, when touched by the palms, seemed to disappear from someone else's gaze.

Dragon head in color in japanese style

Initially, tattoos were applied as a punishment to representatives of the underworld. To disguise the stigma of a prisoner, people made tattoos large and bright.

In the future, wearable drawings became the hallmark of firefighters. Later, tattoos appeared on the bodies of artists, merchants and other representatives of Japanese society.

Why was tattooing banned? There is only one answer. The Japanese authorities tried to avoid mixing of estates and classes of the population. In Japan, this division was clear and unchanging. But the more and tougher the prohibitions were, the more the tattoo art spread.

In this regard, tattoos began to be applied to those parts of the body that were hidden from the outside world as much as possible, for example, legs, chest, arms.

The fashion for wearable drawings received a new impetus when power was concentrated in the bourgeoisie. The next wave came after the end of hostilities. The only problem for the development of the tattoo industry was the loss by the masters of ancient secrets and technologies for applying underwear drawings.

Sleeve tattoo in Japanese style with chrysanthemum

Application technique

Important!

The price of Japanese tattoo sketches is quite high. This is determined by the factor that the tattoo is large-scale and requires more than one day of work. Masters prepare mixtures of herbal dyes and dyes as paints.

It is interesting!

To apply a tattoo, the master uses needles collected in a bundle of 2-10 pieces. Thus, the brightness of the image and the saturation of the picture are achieved.

Koi carp on leg - japanese tattoo

The main distinctive qualities of Japanese tattoos

The main rule of the Japanese tattoo is the asymmetry of the elements of the composition of the body pattern. The outline of the drawing is done with smooth and thinnest lines. Particular attention should be paid to the color scheme and the use of color saturation of the picture. The edge of the element is always performed in brighter tones than the central part.

One of the innovations in Japanese tattooing was moving drawings. Such drawings are applied to the muscles, providing for the movement of the human body. Thus, the masters manage to convey the image in motion, for example, a samurai in a fight with an enemy.

Gloomy Japanese dragon head in black

Japanese tattoo style

Considering the peculiarities of the technique of applying a body pattern, it should also be noted that the Japanese tattoo, the photo of which is always mesmerizing, is distinguished by its huge scale and rich compositions. Often, such a drawing contains several fragments, symbols. The scale and cohesion of the pattern is achieved by filling empty areas with various ornaments.

Koi carp in gold finish

The meaning of tattoos

Japanese tattoos, whose meaning has a deep philosophical meaning, have always fascinated with bright colors, amazing animals, and mysterious inscriptions.

1. Flowers

   Peony - a symbol of wealth, money

   If black rings are applied on a person’s hand, then their number corresponds to the number of crimes committed by the owner of the tattoo.

   I did a Japanese-style tattoo on my back - it turned out perfect. The drawing is rich and bright. I could not even think that such a realistic picture could be.

   Vladislav, Kostroma

   My love for tattoos began in early age when I received cuffs from my parents for painting myself with paints, felt-tip pens. Of course, I did not become a master. But he scored the sleeves. And on both hands. The sketch was developed together with the master. The result was awesome. Make up your mind!

   Dmitry, Moscow

   Video: an overview of popular Japanese tattoos

   Sketches of Japanese tattoos

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

In the world of tattoos every day becomes more and more interesting. New styles, colors, forms and techniques of execution appear, but the fact remains that underwear drawings came to us for a reason. One of the oldest types of wearable images are Japanese tattoos. Previously, they served to convey the spiritual principles of a person, as well as to convey information about his social status and position in society.

The history of Japanese tattoos is very interesting and complicated. Japanese tattoos are a trend that appeared a long time ago. In those days, the government tried in every possible way to protect the people from wearable images, they successfully continued to exist, only in the lower social categories of society. It is interesting that palanquin carriers covered their naked body from view with tattoos depicting representatives of the animal and the world, as well as images of beautiful maidens.

Japanese-style tattoos also include Irezumi, which means “mascara injection”. This type of underwear was especially popular among courtesans and their admirers.

However, for the first time, tattoos appeared on the bodies of representatives of criminal gangs. The desire to disguise the stigma of a prisoner gave rise to fantasy in people, and so ordinary marks turned into bright, overall tattoos. Soon they migrated to the bodies of firefighters, and after some time they began to decorate the bodies of artists, merchants and other representatives of Japanese society.

Why then were they banned? And all because the authorities wanted to avoid mixing estates and classes. In Japan, this division was clear and has not changed for a long time. Apparently, the authorities did not understand that the ban serves as a kind of motivation, because as soon as a ban on tattoos was introduced in the country, they began to spread at lightning speed. Tattoos were applied to those parts of the body that were hidden from prying eyes as much as possible.

Technics

Since these tattoos are quite complex in execution, they require high professionalism and qualifications from a specialist. The master of Japanese tattoos must feel which sketch will suit this or that person.

He, like an artist, paints your body with different colors, and these are not just drawings, these are tattoos with meaning. You can choose classic Japanese tattoos or add something of your own and fill your body with a “Japanese-style realism” sketch - it all depends on you and the skills of the tattoo artist. It should be noted that the price of Japanese tattoos is quite high, and all because often these are overall wearable images that require more than one day of the master's work.

As for dyes, mixtures of herbal dyes and dyes are used instead. Japanese motifs require accuracy and accuracy, the right combination of shades, etc. For applying a body image, needles are used, collected in a bundle of 2-10 pieces. This allows you to make the picture as bright and saturated as possible.

Main differences from other styles

The appearance of Japanese patterns, for the most part, is asymmetrical, having a smooth outline, which is displayed in thin and neat lines. As for the saturation of the image, with the right dosage of tones, the effect is incredibly beautiful. With the help of a special filling technique, the edge of the tattoo turns out to be brighter, and the central part of the tattoo is vice versa.

Among the innovations, perhaps, we should highlight moving images. They are stuffed into the muscles, after thinking about the movement of the human body. Tattoo artists manage to convey the image in motion.

The meaning of tattoos

The meaning of Japanese tattoos is far from simple. The depth, message and main idea of ​​wearable images in this style is immensely great. Apart from appearance, bright colors and a large number of details, symbols for tattoos in Japan have always fascinated with their interpretation. There are several basic sketches that are most popular today. Among them:

1. Flowers (magnolia symbolizes steadfastness and fortitude, lotus means purity and eternity, and sakura is a symbol of the transience of life).
2. Animals:

• the dragon is a symbol of immense good luck;
• koi carp and other fish - a symbol of wisdom, stamina, courage;
• the tiger symbolizes fearlessness, strength, power;
• the snake is a negative symbol, associates evil.

1. Deities. This includes sketches depicting scenes from religion. In such drawings one can meet the faces of formidable deities, Buddha, etc.
2. Yakuza, samurai. Most people associate with gangs in Italy, but they originally appeared in Asian countries. They are the stigma of a gang member, put such drawings on the chest. The image is a symbol of courage, fearlessness.
3. Nature. These can be images of beautiful landscapes, sea waves, which symbolize calmness, harmony, peace of mind.

The meaning of the skull in Japanese tattoos is as follows: a symbol of the “great change” or the transition from the old to the new life.

About places of application

If we talk about the locations of such wearable drawings, it should be noted that the back, chest, are best suited for this. If it's an arm tattoo, it's most likely an entire Japanese sleeve, as this style of tattoo art requires a lot of space. It takes a lot of time, patience and money to create a Japanese-style sleeve tattoo, but we recommend that you be patient, because the result is worth it. The Japanese sleeve style is different from others. It not only looks spectacular, it carries a deep sacred meaning, and can also affect the life of its wearer.

Japanese tattoos for girls are most often applied to the lower back, arms, and shoulders. Among the popular sketches, black and white should be highlighted. beautiful phrases in Japanese with a translation for a tattoo, as well as a hieroglyph for wealth and prosperity. The mystery and mystery that lurks in Chinese and Japanese tattoos attracts many people.

Japanese tattoos for men are large, colorful with an interesting plot. It can be a Japanese lion, a demon mask or a samurai mask. You can find Japanese hieroglyphs and their meaning in Russian today on the Internet, so if you dream of such a tattoo, hurry up to put one of the listed symbols on your body.

A photo

Looking at photos of tattoos I have always found that they are soothing, reminding me that they are calm even in the face of danger or adversity. We bring to your attention a new photo review of tattoos in the Japanese style.