Chinese Tattoos Symbols, Designs, Ideas And Themes

Recently there's been a huge rise in the field of tattooing. With popular TV shows like Miami Heat in LA Inc. being broadcast on national TV more and more people are getting tattoos. Of particular fascination to many are Chinese tattoo symbols and designs. The art of tattooing in China actually dates back much farther then its western counterpart. In the West until he didn't come into fashion until very late in the 20th century and mainly in the early 21st century. However, the art of tattooing has a long history in many Asian cultures including China, Japan, and even Thailand just to name a few. What is ironic about this is typically tattoos are used in many of the Asian cultures to mark criminals and other social deviants.

Regardless of the past Chinese tattoo symbols have been widely adopted into the western tattoo lexicon. The mystique and foreignness of an Asian tattoo and the beauty of Chinese and Japanese writing have really sparked a lot of interest among western tattoo enthusiasts. There are many beautiful Chinese designs of themselves well to the art of tattooing. However in much of Asia since tattooing was done in criminals and social deviants many of the designs are very large and often full body pieces especially in Japan. These often are very expensive designs and take many hours in a tattoo shop this is led many western tattoo enthusiasts to opt for Chinese symbols. The beautiful script used in China lends itself well to creating a mysterious and ancient looking tattoo that is not easily discernible by the average Westerner

Tattoos - A Quick Trip Around the World

No one knows for certain when the first tattoos were inked. Ancient tattoos are often preserved when skin has been mummified or preserved in ice or peat.

Ötzi the Iceman, dating back to approximately 3,300BC, was found in a glacier in the Alps between Italy and Austria. Ötzi had approximately 57 carbon tattoos consisting of simple dots and lines on his lower spine, behind his left knee, and on his right ankle.

Pacific Islands

The word tattoo appears to originate from the Tahitian word tatau, meaning 'to mark'.

Most Pacific cultures believe that tattoos make a person strong or powerful both spiritually and socially enabling the body to channel its energy between human and spiritual dimensions.

Maori men tattooed their faces with fierce looking patterns and Maori women tattooed their lips and chins. These tattoos are caved into the flesh using a bone chisel, and ink is then placed in the cuts.

In Samoa the tattoo marks the ability to bear pain and is still true today and tattooing in Japan is thought to go back some ten thousand years.

Central and South America

Evidence shows that prior to the arrival of the Spanish (in 1519) tattoos and body painting was widespread and largely used for social and religious purposes (rather than just decorative). The arrival of the Spanish marked the rapid decline and extermination of many indigenous cultures, removing also the knowledge of how these looked and how they were applied.

North America

North American Indians customarily tattooed their bodies or faces or both. The usual application technique was by pricking the skin, although some California tribes added colour into scratches. Many tribes of the Arctic and Subarctic including most Eskimos (or Inuit) made needle punctures through which a strand of fibre coated with a pigment, or soot, was drawn through underneath the skin.

Central and South Africa

Traditionally the method of tattooing involved marking the design on the skin with series of black dots, which works less well with darker skins, which probably explains why tribal tattoos are not as prevalent as in other cultures. Rather than tattoos, scarification or skin painting is widely used as a way of decorating the body.

Chinese & Japanese Tattoos

From about 1600AD Japanese tattoos were used as a form of punishment. Tattooing was legalised by the occupation forces at the end of World War II. To a certain degree, tattoos still retained an image of criminality. Traditional Japanese tattoos were, for a while, associated with the yakuza, Japan's notorious mafia (although now organised criminals deliberately avoid wearing tattoos).

If you are considering Japanese Kana tattoos or Chinese character tattoos (also known as kanji tattoos), then be very careful. There are many cases where tattoo artists have got the actual meaning of the Japanese or Chinese characters wrong (deliberately, or through insufficient research), and which would obviously lead to a permanent embarrassment.

Europe

Tattooing in Europe has obviously been around for thousands of years (as seen on Ötzi the Iceman), although it was thought that Captain Cook 're-introduced' tattooing back into Europe after his voyage to the Pacific in 1769. Many sailors returned bearing souvenirs on their bodies. Since the return of this trip, tattoos have been associated with life on the sea.

What is the Significant of Tattoo Fonts

If you're looking for a tattoo that contains words, you really need to examine possible tattoo fonts to find the one that's best for what you want. After all, tattoos are really works of art. Not only that, but they are works of art that everyone will be able to see on your body for the rest of your life.

There are many tattoo fonts to choose from. Thanks to the computer age, anything you can dream up can be used for tattoo fonts. In fact, you can use software on the computer to combine a tattoo design with tattoo fonts and get a full image of what your finished tattoo will look like. Then, all you need to do is print it and take it to the tattoo artist at the tattoo parlor you have chosen. They can then trace the tattoo onto your body for you. Technological advances have really improved tattooing methods.

There are, of course, some tattoo fonts that are more popular than others. Fiery fonts and icy fonts are among the most popular. Those who want to look cool or spice things up often use tattoo fonts like that. Old English is another popular font for tattooing. Any tattoo fonts can be used, but usually people choose these fonts because they are eye-catching.

What are tattoo fonts used for? Well, primarily they are used to tattoo a person's name or initials. They're popular among people who are dating. Sometimes tattoo fonts are used to tattoo the name of a loved one who has died or the name of someone's pet or child. The possibilities are endless, but those are the more popular uses for tattoo fonts.

Kanji Japanese calligraphy is another of the tattoo fonts you may want to consider using. Originally Kanji was used to write on bones in a formal way. The rounded, natural calligraphy is often used, these days, by Japanese people to achieve an old-fashioned appeal. These days, Kanji has evolved a bit. It's split off into two different styles. One is SOSHO Kanji and one is MINCHO Kanji.

MINCHO Kanji is the equivalent of Times New Roman in English letters to the Japanese. It's the font found commonly in newspapers in Japan. MINCHO style is a bit formal and is starting to be used everywhere, even on billboards in Japan.

The Most Creative Tattoo Fonts

Are you planning to have a tattoo that has characters and words such as name tattoo? Make sure you do the proper research in order to get the best suitable tattoo fonts. Tattoo designing is a serious art. Since tattoos are generally for a life time and are parts of your body, getting the best possible is the right approach.

You can choose from huge range of fonts available. You can generate and select various types of font by using your computer. Combining tattoo fonts with your tattoo design and check out the final design is very easy with computer. Print out your selected tattoo designs and show it to your tattoo artist for advice. This will help your artist to craft your favorite tattoo design on your body.

When it comes to tattoo fonts, Fiery and Icy styles are most sought after. If you want to have a cool personality these fonts are the best. Several popular designs utilized from Old English. Usually people prefer eye-catching tattoo fonts for obvious reasons.

But, do you really know the main reason these tattoo fonts are used? Usually, people use them in name tattoos. Most tattoo fans love this kind of tattoo design. These are also used to add the names of beloved ones such as parents, children, or person who has died. There numerous other reasons behind the use of tattoo fonts.

Kanji Japanese calligraphy tattoo fonts are also very popular. Initially Kanji calligraphy was used to write on bones. Today, among Japanese who prefer to give old charm to their tattoos, the rounded and natural Japanese calligraphy is more popular.

However, Kanji has evolved along the time and has diverged into two diverse styles: SOSHO Kanji and MINCHO Kanji.

MINCHO Kanji in Japanese is just like Times New Roman in English. In Japan, it's the most frequently used font in print. It's is more formal and gradually becoming popular in other media's such as Billboards in Japan.

A Brief Look at Chinese Japanese Kanji and Maori Tattoos

Tattoos are not a fad, its not even a recent phenomenon. It has been practiced for thousands of years already. Here is a look at some of the most traditional types of tattoos and what they represent.

Chinese Symbol Tattoo

Chinese symbol tattoos are the most popular as well as beautiful and exotic ones. According to women, the Chinese symbols are alluring them because of their subtle meanings and themes that express the feelings of love, hope and freedom. Anything subtly expressed is always embraced by feminine species. These tattoos are also strongly associated with martial art movies, men are attracted to these types of tattoo designs. These Chinese tattoos started more than 4000 years ago. In Chinese writing consists of large number of symbols rather than alphabets and the speech or ideas are conveyed through these symbols. There are certain things to keep in mind before getting a Chinese symbol tattoo such as the words selected should be translated accurately. Consult a specialist of Chinese tattoo who know the individual meaning of the symbols to avoid the wrong meaning.

Japanese Symbol Tattoo

These tattoos are popular in western countries such as America and Europe. The tattooing has been practicing for thousand of years in Japan. In the beginning the Japanese prisoners were identified through the permanent tattoos and more design came that was liked by the prostitutes and gangsters. Artisans and laborers also start practicing tattooing among the working class. They were the first Japanese adopted tattooing of whole body with a superstition that the tattooing will protect from danger.

Kanji

The Japanese tattoo of American version has been classified into artwork and calligraphy and the Kanji letterform became more popular. In Kanji tattoos we see Chinese characters that are used in Japanese language. Kana and Kanji are the two types of characters that are used in Japanese writing. The meanings of the characters in Chinese and Japanese may be the same but they are pronounced differently or entirely with different meanings. Some of the kanji were evolved in Japan and cannot be seen in the Chinese language.

Maori

The Maori tattoos are one of the unique types of tattoos in the world and have their own identity among the Polynesian tattoos. This type of tattooing is sacred among the Maori people in New Zealand. Maori tattoos are beautiful with curved and spiral shapes in intricate patterns and the most common of tattooing the Maori tattoos was the face may be because of the cold climate.

Tattoos - A Historical Perspective

Dermal pigmentation, or tattoo, is a mark made by depositing ink into the skin for, usually, decorative purposes. Tattoos on people are a decorative enhancement, while tattoos on animals are for identification or branding. The word tattoo comes from the Samoan word tatau, meaning to mark or strike twice. Tattoos are referred to as tats, work, art, or ink, and the person giving the tattoo as an artist. Copyrighted designs, or flash, are mass-produced and sold to other artists. Flash sheets are displayed in tattoo parlors to provide both inspiration and ready-made tattoo images to customers.

Tattooing has been practiced in Europe and Asia for thousands of years. A mummified corpse dating from 4000 BC was found in the Ötz valley in the Alps and had 57 carbon tattoos consisting of dots and lines on his lower spine, behind his left knee, and on his right ankle. Other mummies with tattoos dating from 1000 BC have been discovered in the southwestern Siberian region of Russia. Tattooing in Japan has been traced back to 10,000 years ago. Most other cultures around the world have had their own tattoo traditions, ranging from rubbing cuts with ashes, to pricking the skin to insert other pigments.

The ancient people of Japan and the Maori of New Zealand wore facial tattoos. Modern day Maori still carry on the tradition today. Despite some taboos surrounding tattooing, the art continues to be popular all over the world. Tattoos have served as a rite of passage, status and rank, marks of fertility, bravery, sexual lures, spiritual devotion, show of love, punishment, and to identify slaves and convicts. The symbolism and impact of tattoos can be very powerful. People have also been forcibly tattooed for various reasons. The best known example is the identification system for Jews who suffered in concentration camps during the Holocaust of World War II.

How To Get The Perfect Kanji Tattoo You Truly Deserve

Kanji was originated from Chinese Characters.

Kanji is the term for Chinese characters that are used in the Japanese language. There are two different types of characters that are used in written Japanese: kana, which includes the types of writing known as hiragana and katakana, and kanji. All written Japanese evolved from written Chinese, and were modified to create the different sounds of the Japanese language. Kanji in Japanese are typically characters from the Chinese language that have been adapted to mean Japanese words. The meanings in Chinese and Japanese can be the same but pronounced differently, or they may have entirely different meanings. Some kanji were developed in Japan and are not seen in the Chinese language at all. Still other kanji are written in different forms but have the same meaning.

Japanese Kanji Tattoos VS Chinese Symbol Tattoos.

The Kanji Tattoos you have seen in the tattoo parlor or anywhere else are actually Chinese Symbol Tattoos, when you are planning to get a Kanji Tattoo, Choosing Chinese Symbol Tattoos instead of Japanese Kanji Tattoos, Why? Japanese Kanji only have hundreds of writing symbols which evolved from written Chinese Symbols, You can not get whatever you want to express by using Japanese Kanji. Whereas, Chinese Symbols have about 4000 year history and there are 47,035 Chinese symbols in Chinese Kangxi Dictionary. Put it simple, You can get whatever you want to express in Chinese symbols.

How to Get a perfect Kanji Tattoo you truly deserve

My Name is Yingying, I am a Chinese tattoo artist, and have been helping the western people get their Kanji tattoos for three years. Kanji have a complex beauty as well as individual meanings. People who get Kanji tattoos are often drawn to this. Unfortunately, the flip-side is that there are a lot of Kanji tattoo Mistakes. I have personally seen such elementary mistakes as Kanji being tattooed backward and meant something else other than intended. My goal is to help people explore the beauty and complexity of Kanji safe in the knowledge that they are dealing with the professional. Why many western people make mistakes with their kanji tattoos, the main reason is because they made no preparation before inking and just walked into a tattoo parlor without knowing what they would get. And then their Chinese tattoos became the permanent source to embarrass them. Yes, they can get their tattoo removed, but removing unwanted tattoos is a very expensive, lengthy and painful ordeal! You are wise to research your best possible options before going through with it.

Basic Tattoo Designs

Tribal Tattoos -Tribal Tattooing originated thousands of years ago, and it is still being used by various cultures throughout the world. Tribal tattoos originated in areas such as Hawaii and Samoa. Their characteristics include heavy black lines and shading of geometric designs. The great thing about tribal tattoos is the variety of creativity that a tattoo artist can use. In fact, any basic design can easily be given a tribal touch by a skilled tattoo artist by working freehand alone. With the flexibility of this design, anyone can easily come up with a unique tribal tattoo design.

Celtic Tattoos - Celtic designs are an incredibly popular choice today for those looking to get tattooed. A general rule of thumb is: the shape of the design often determines the "meaning" of a knotwork design. Circles represent unity or eternity, spirals reincarnation or cycles of life and rebirth, triangles and trefoils the threefold dominion of earth, sea, and sky. Squares or four-fold shapes are shield knots, symbols of protection from spirits or evil influences. Interlaced animals and men usually represent relationships, or emphasize the interdependence of mankind and nature. There are actually very few records of the Celts themselves, and most symbols are interpreted by archaeologists and other scholars who have studied the symbols in context. Some ancient Celtic symbols have changed in meaning over time, having been influenced by the introduction of the Church and the influence of other cultures. Be sure to seek advice from the tattoo artist when deciding on which design would best suit your personality.

Dragonfly Tattoo Designs - Do They Mean Anything?

What is with the growing trend to wear tattoos of dragonflies? We all know that they are harmless insects with beautifully, transparent wings. Their bodies reflect a multitude of colors. It seems that they are incorporated with many different tattoo themes. Some times they are seen inked within Asian or oriental tattoo designs. At other times they may be blended with Native American themed tattoos. We also see them mixed in with fantasy art and mystical designs. Are there some underlying meanings to dragonflies?

Asian cultures often hold the dragonfly in high regard. Japan, China, and Vietnam all assign special meaning to the dragonfly. In Japan, they often represent happiness or joy. Another Japanese view of the dragonfly is their depiction of strength and courage. China and Japan have medical uses for the dragonfly and Vietnamese will occasionally use them to help forecast the weather.

As far the United States are concerned, the dragonfly has been a symbol of renewal or rebirth after a great loss or hardship in a number of Native American cultures. Some Native Americans believe the dragonfly to be the souls of the people who have passed on. The dragonfly design has been used in Zuni, Hopi and Pueblo pottery, artwork and jewelry. To the Navajo the dragonfly represents pure water. Many times the dragonfly is a symbol of both air and water because they start their life in water then change to a flying insect at maturity.

This transformation from water to air has defined the mystical or metaphysical symbolism of the dragonfly. These qualities are what make the dragonfly a symbol of change. They denote rising up and achieving goals and passing our self imposed limits. They are often synonymous with maturity and growing up. Mythical stories refer to them as previously being dragons.

The Popularity of Kanji Tattoos

Kanji tattoos are based on Japanese writing system called kanji which is one of the forms of writing in Japan. It actually came from China thousands of years ago when Japan had no form of writing. Since Japanese is very different from Chinese, they developed another sets of alphabet called "kana" in the form of hiragana and katakana, each standing for a syllable rather than a separate consonant or vowel.

Kanji on the other hand, are ideograms which have characters with their own meaning and correspond to a word. The characters are stand alone and can be combined with other characters to create more words. This makes kanji tattoo very popular since it can make a statement of its own while maintaining discrete meaning and not obvious messages. Some people use kanji characters to convert the name of their significant others and have it tattooed on them.

Kanji characters are composed of beautiful strokes of different lines which are bound within an imaginary square and represent objects or actions. They are complicated and difficult yet beautiful and fascinating. They are believed to have spiritual effect on the mind of the reader. They are favored a lot by tattoo enthusiasts because of their artistic values. They are usually use to communicate character, values or beliefs like "strength", "laughter" etc.

Kanji tattoos can be frequently found in combination with other symbols that are also of Japanese origin. The kanji characters are being used to accentuate and play up with tattoo images like cherry blossoms, koi and geisha. Even the designs that does not relate at all to Japan are also being blended with kanji characters. This is a great alternative from the obvious English words so as to create some sort of mystery.

Kanji tattoos are complex and hard to understand. Make sure that you have the right characters when deciding to have it inked on you. Tattoos are permanent so it can be very frustrating if you ended up with a kanji tattoo does not contain the message that you want to convey.

Japanese Dragon Tattoos - Tips for Finding the Perfect Japanese Dragon Tattoo

Don't get Japanese Dragon Tattoos until you read this. After reading this short article, you will be more well informed and able to make a better choice when selecting your Design.

Let's begin. The dragon has long been an important symbol in Japanese mythology. The Japanese dragon is a fascinating creature with the head of a camel, eyes of a hare, horns of a deer, scales of a carp, paws of a tiger, and claws of an eagle. Additionally, Japanese dragons also commonly have long whiskers and a jewel under its chin.

Many people are attracted to the allure of these mystical creatures, but few people truly know what they symbolize. Japanese dragons, like their Chinese counterparts, are distinct from Western dragons. Whereas in Western culture they are depicted as evil and malevolent, dragons in Japanese Mythology are viewed as guardians of the imperial families. For this reason, many people chose the Japanese dragon to serve as a guardian and protector. In Japan, a dragon is normally called "Ryu" (You might recall Ryu from Street Fighter). These mythical beasts command a high level of respect since it is believed that the first emperor of Japan was descended from a dragon. In Japan, these creatures are also viewed as gods of lighting and thunder.

Popular locations for Japanese dragon tattoos include full back and upper arm designs. For upper arm designs, the dragon typically wraps around the arm, with the head extending onto the chest or back region. This however should not limit your decision on where to place this tattoo. The style and location of your design should be personal and unique, as these factors will ultimately determine the meaning of your tattoo.

How To Pick The Accurate Japanese Kanji Tattoo Designs

Kanji is the name of the Chinese characters in Japanese language. It is derived from the combination of kan, meaning Chinese and ji meaning character.

There are different theories about the arrival of the Chinese symbols in Japan. The most accepted one is through the Buddhist texts in Chinese language by the monks in 5th century.

Chinese characters had dual pronunciation after the entry into the Japanese language; their pronunciation in Chinese language (on) and their existing pronunciation in Japanese language (kun).

With recent language reforms in Japan, the use of Kanji is both simplified and limited only to the use of nouns, adjectives and verbs. The number of Kanji characters decreased to most widely used 1945 from ten thousands.

It is well accepted that learning kanji is really tough. An intensive and long-term study is necessary for memorizing all these Japanese kanji symbols. This process may take years. The online versions of Japanese kanji dictionary helps people a lot for finding the how certain words written in Japanese.

The best examples of the fine arts appeared in Japan starting from very early ages. Japanese arts are devoted to their beauty. This is true also for the tattoo art. Japanese tattoo art has its roots from hundreds of years ago.

Tattoo lovers give special attention to kanji symbols because Japanese kanji symbols are simple and powerful with deep meanings, unique, aesthetic and very beautiful. This is the reason why they frequently use Japanese Kanji dictionary websites on the internet for the translations of words like strength, eternity, love, happiness, loyalty...etc.

There are important things to consider when choosing kanji tattoos:

1. Research Kanji Symbols and Their Meanings First: Getting a tattoo requires serious investigation. Tattoos are done forever. Be sure that the tattoo design you choose is something you can be with throughout your life. Just by using the power of internet, you can carry out a lot of research about Japanese kanji tattoos, symbols, their meanings. And of course you can use the Japanese kanji dictionary services online.
2. English to Kanji Translation: There are a number of bad translations, especially translating English to Japanese kanji. The translation if not done accurately, may cause very disappointing results. At this point it is very important to get the ideas of people who knows Japanese or get assistance from translation services. So that the accurate meaning of kanji can be tattooed with the right kanji symbol. Kanji Dictionary websites can help you get ideas online.
3. Misapplication of the Kanji Tattoo: Since the parlors in the western countries do not know how Kanji characters should appear, there is often the misapplication of Kanji characters. This may lead to a situation where instead of the kanji tattoo, the mirror image of it may appear on your body. You can bring the stencils of the kanji tattoo design you wish to have to the parlor to avoid this mistake to happen.

You can avoid using the wrong Japanese symbols by using the right Japanese Kanji dictionaries and always getting ideas from people who knows how to translate Japanese well

Western Art - Tattoo - A Trendy Segment of Body Art

Tattoo - The Concept
Tattoo is used as a form of body modification to create a design, usually permanent, on various parts of body. They can be employed for a multitude of reasons, like tradition, identification, medicinal purposes, or for fashion. The color pigment, which is an indelible liquid, is inserted in the skin in such a way that it colors several layers of it and settles there permanently. The term 'tattoo' was derived from the Polynesian word 'tatau.' This art has been prevalent in various parts of the world, since antiquity.

The History
The evidence of tattooing in Japan traces back to the 5th Century B.C. However, Gishiwajinden, the Chinese historical account, describes face tattooing by the Japanese men in the 3rd Century B.C.! Around the 18th Century A.D., prostitutes used dot like tattoos. In 1720, tattooing of letters or circles on the forehead or on arms was legalized as a punishment for financial crimes and frauds. After the Horeki Era (1751-1764), first pictorial tattoos appeared in Japan. As the modernization of Japan began, tattoos were banned in the year 1872, citing them as a mark of barbarism. The ban was finally lifted in the year 1948.

Several mummies, which date back to 2000 to 5000 A.D., exhumed from Ancient Egypt and the Alps region between Italy & Austria, also carry tattoos. These were simple designs, like lines or dots in monochromatic ink, rather than elaborate patterns. Germany and other parts northern & central Europe also witnessed the use of tattoos among its natives, in the Pre-Christian era. These tribes used organic woad extracts and copper compounds as dying agents. The art of tattooing was prevalent in India since ancient times. Mostly the leaves of a plant known as 'mehendi' were used to create a 'temporary' pigment. The paste of the leaves was used to create elaborate designs on the skin. It was washed-off on drying, leaving behind red-orange patterns by etching through the layers of the skin. The evidence of the use of permanent dyes and iron needles process were also found.

The History of The Dragons and why Dragon Tattoos Are So Popular

According to the Webster-Merriam Dictionary, the word dragon is Middle English, from Anglo-French dragun, from Latin dracon.

The definition of dragon is:

· A mythical animal usually represented as a monstrous winged and scaly serpent with a crested head and enormous claws.

· Or someone who is formidable

The many depictions of dragons are incredibly diverse and complex. No other creature in mythology has appeared in so many cultures from such remote parts of the world!

Many of us think of dragons as a terrifying beast. However, the Eastern dragons are portrayed as good, kind, ancient and intelligent. The Asian Dragons have the most recorded history in the world, especially in China going back thousands of years.

The Difference between the Eastern Dragons:

Chinese dragons have all five toes. The Chinese believe that all dragons began from China. They believed that as the dragons flew south, they began to lose their toes. The farther the dragons flew, the more toes they lost. So, Korean dragons have four toes, and Japanese dragons have three.

Korean dragons have four toes. The Koreans believe that when the dragons leave Korea and go north to China, they begin to gain toes. When the dragons leave Korea and go north to Japan, they begin to lose toes.

Japanese dragons have three toes. The Japanese though all dragons originated from Japan. They also believed that when the dragons leave Japan and head north, they gain toes. The farther the dragons went, the more toes they gained. This is why the other dragons have more toes. The Japanese believed the breath of dragons could turn into clouds, which could produce rain.

But here's the kicker, unlike most types of dragon, most of the Eastern Dragons have no wings!

The Western Dragon

The Western dragons or medieval dragons have a more ferocious and primitive appearance. They often look like giant lizards with long tails and a pair of wings. While the dragons are thought of as calculating and thoughtful monsters, they have also been viewed as mindless beasts. We think of dragons as having talons, fangs, breathing fire, scaly skins, and red eyes in our drawings and paintings. The Western Dragons were also known to have huge hoards of gold and jewels hidden in their lairs.

Tattoos Descriptions and Their History

A tattoo is a permanent marking made by inserting ink into the layers of skin to change the pigment for decorative or other reasons. Tattoos on humans are a type of decorative body modification, while tattoos on animals are most commonly used for identification or branding.

Tattooing has been practiced worldwide. The Ainu, the indigenous people of Japan, traditionally wore facial tattoos. Today one can find Berbers of Tamazgha and Maori of New Zealand with facial tattoos. Tattooing was widespread among Polynesian peoples and among certain tribal groups in the Philippines, Borneo, Mentawai Islands, Africa, North America, South America, Mesoamerica, Europe, Japan, Cambodia, New Zealand and China.

Despite some taboos surrounding tattooing, the art continues to be popular in many parts of the world. Tattooing has been a Eurasian practice at least since Neolithic times. Otzi the Iceman, dating from the fourth to fifth millennium BC, was found in the Ötz valley in the Alps and had approximately 57 carbon tattoos consisting of simple dots and lines on his lower spine, behind his left knee, and on his right ankle. Other mummies bearing tattoos and dating from the end of the second millennium BC have been discovered at Pazyry on the Ukok Plateau. Tattooing in Japan is thought to go back to the Paleolithic era, some ten thousand years ago. Various other cultures have had their own tattoo traditions, ranging from rubbing cuts and other wounds with ashes, to hand-pricking the skin to insert Dyes.

Chinese Dragon Tattoo Designs and Meanings

It is believed that the mythical creature developed its appearance from the totem poles of many different tribes in China. As the tribes merged, the different attributes of the dragon's appearance took shape. The Chinese dragon is believed to have evolved over time to incorporate the features of 9 animals to become the mythical creature it is today. These features include the:

• Horns of a deer
• Head of a camel
• Eyes of a demon
• Neck of a snake
• Stomach of a clam
• Scales of a carp fish
• Claws of an eagle
• Soles of a tiger
• Ears of a cow

Combine these features together and you have the Chinese Dragon, a very popular tattoo design over the ages and evermore so now. It is common for many oriental pictures of the Chinese dragon to show a pearl or thunder-ball under its chin - representing good luck and wisdom. Some pictures also show Chinese dragons with bat wings, although dragons are able to fly without wings.

Chinese Dragon Tattoo Meanings

This tattoo design is centuries old which adds to its appeal and mystic. It is a symbol of mystery and power, wisdom and good will. These dragons are considered good luck and are linked heavily with the number nine, as there are nine sections to the dragon. Qualities include loyalty courage and strength.

Tattoo Tips and Ideas For Japanese Sleeve Tattoo Designs

The sleeve tattoos are increasingly gaining fame among men nowadays and is perhaps because of the escalating number of personalities obtaining this kind of body art. A sleeve tattoo can be depicted as a body image that envelops around the upper portion of the arm, coming from the shoulder directing to the elbow. One of the most popular sleeve tattoos are the Japanese tattoo designs. Japanese are notorious for their symbolic meanings and detailed designs. Not only that, they are also remarkably attractive. They make a brilliant option in terms of full sleeve body ink.

The koi fish are perhaps one of the most preferred and greatly symbolic of the entire Japanese body ink designs. In the mythology of Japan, it stated that the koi fish swim a legendary stream searching for enlightenment. As they fight and endure to swim the stream up, they discovered lessons from other species and they finally reach the top of the stream and become progressive and transformed into a dragon. Hence, as a tattoo design, they normally symbolize the merits of power, strength and struggling against hardship and affliction. Also, they are perceived as a symbol of good fortune. Almost all the temples of Japan, from the past years up to the present include a koi pond facing them. They are perceived to be dominant and strong but at the same time, greatly reflective and nonviolent.

Another exceptional Japanese tattoo designs for the sleeve is the cherry blossom. This flower in one f the common symbols among the customary art tattoos of Japan. As a matter of fact, the art and symbolism of this flower does not just serve as a body art design but it also boosts a deep importance in the consciousness of the Japanese. The attraction with Cherry blossom started during the ancient times. They believed that the life of a person is short and constantly changing thus the time on this world must be maximized and with the maximum amount of honor and beauty. The life's impermanence is seen through the cherry blossom, making them a remarkable tattoo image for sleeve tattoos.

Japanese Tattoo Designs For Women - A Guide to Choosing the Right Design

In recent years, there has been a revival with Japanese tattoos. This revival is understandable, as Japanese artwork can be very beautiful. Some of it can be traced back for thousands of years! These days, they are popular for both men and women. If you are a woman who is interested in Japanese tattoo designs, here are some tips that will help you with your choice.

Understanding the history

Tattooing is a tradition in Japan that dates back to several centuries. During most of those centuries, the art wasn't accepted by most people. In fact, tattoos in ancient Japan were usually associated with criminals. There was even some branding going on in regard to criminals. The branding continued on during the time of Yakuza (gangs). The gangsters would get tattoos to mark their chosen lifestyle.

In recent decades, many young Japanese men who aren't associated with any gangs have been getting tattoos, as the art is becoming more and more mainstream. This art is going through a sort or rebirth amongst the Japanese and the trend is spreading more widely to Europe and North America. Now, many men and women of all ages are starting to get Japanese tattoo designs.

The designs for women

Here are some of the most popular designs that look great on women. You are free to choose any design you want, of course, although there are certain images that most women tend to prefer.

The cherry blossom

Perhaps the most well known flower in Japan, the cherry blossom is admired for its beauty and delicacy. They symbolize how life can be both fragile and beautiful. Even the Samurai would admire the cherry blossom and write poems about the flower. These days, many women are choosing to get cherry blossom tattoos. Just look for images of the flower and you will understand why they are so admired!

Geisha tattoos

Men and women both include Geishas in their Japanese tattoo designs. They are more than just "pinup" models; they are very classy, cultured women that were trained to carry the traditions of the Japanese culture. They were beautiful and very talented. They were taught to dance, sing, play instruments, pour tea with perfection, and entertain in general.

Japanese Tattoo Art

Some question the artistic factor of Japanese tattoo art, but it is because they are looking at simple pieces such as symbols. Japanese tattoo art consists of so much more. As a matter of fact, there are some amazing designs that celebrities and other high profile individuals have paid a lot of money for.

History

Japanese tattoo art has been around for centuries. It is thought that facial tattoos graced the faces of early Japanese settlers. Throughout the years, the art evolved and it was a custom to be tattooed with very detailed images. For instance, in 1827 Kuniyoshi Utagawa created 6 very intricate designs that were part of the 108 Heroes of the Suikoden. These heroes were like a bunch of Robin Hoods. Each tattoo told a piece of the story.

There is Japanese art that depicts their warriors as heavily tattooed. In today's Japan, it is not common to find someone who is heavily tattooed. As it stands, the Japanese people consider people who are tattooed to be a part of an underworld of gangsters. They believe it to be a habit of the low class. Young tattooed people in Japan have them placed where people cannot see. That way they do not have to encounter judgment by their peers or older individuals in Japan.

But the Japanese tattoo designs are quite amazing when you look at them. They depict parts of Japanese history, contain many fine lines that make the design, and the colors are so vivid and unique. Some people may even have their entire back tattooed because some tattoos are only good when they are large and a message is to be relayed.

Types

Flowers and dragons tend to be the most common, aside from Japanese symbols with significant meaning to the tattooed individual. Extensive Japanese tattoo art can take a while to finish. Because of the amount of detail put into some designs, it can take several sittings to finish. Having one done in one sitting could be quite daunting to the tattoo artist and to the recipient. It is also necessary to allow some healing to take place before continuing some parts of the journey.

History of Tattoos - Series Part 3 of 4

It is sad to say but in various other sections of the world a good deal of the represented Polynesian tattoos have been both forgotten over time. As well as the conflict of other cultures and the lapse of rigid governmental and sacred groupings. Traditional tattooing all around the world has repeatedly been a victim to this tiresome and frightful pattern.

The first Roman emperor to profess to Christianity was Constantine 1st. Who prohibited tattooing of the face in the early forth century since it was interpreted as disrespectful of God's image. With the Assembly of Calcuth, in Northumberland banning in Europe occurred and tattooing was demoralized in numerous ways.

It was their opinion that tattoos were connected to symbolic and ritualism. Earlier Christians were in all likelihood the target. A Roman scholar named Herodian, described observations of the first century were the animal body designs of the Celts. These might have been either painting or tattoos and were intentionally left in full view by clothing.

People of northern Britain were called Picts because of their display of this type of images. Julius Caesar in 55 B.C.E., even described that The Danes, Saxons, Gauls, Teutons and The Norse all had customs of being tattooed. These tattoos focused primarily on tribal and family symbols. It was also practiced in Greece and Rome. These practices were related with barbarians and the tattoos were used to identify criminals, slaves and at times used as a form of punishment. "Stigma" was the Latin word for Tattoo.

As a spiritual endeavor tattoos were pursued in places such as: Burma, Cambodia, Japan, China, Thailand and the Philippines. Tattoos were very much bound up with religion in several parts of southeast Asia. In Thailand it is noted for the practice of Buddhist monks receiving and giving tattoos as well as also providing prayers and offerings as talismans for a good life's journey.

Tattoos also serve a similar purpose in many of these areas as that of protection to ward off bad luck. These symbols often include ancient designs drawn from numerology, calligraphy, natural animals, and also that of mythical creatures like the dragon.

The History of Yakuza Tattoos

Many years ago in the time of the Shogun, the Japanese Authorities would tattoo criminals to make them stand out from the rest of the population. These would take the form of black rings on the arms. As the sentence and convictions increased, so would the rings on the arms.

These tattooed men would stick together and form gangs and eventually they would be known as Yakuza. These tattoos where worn proudly as symbols of status and these Yakuza tattoos developed into magnificent, ornate tattoos that covered the whole body. These Yakuza tattoos have been known to take over two years to complete.

The Yakuza are believed to be one of the largest organized crime factions in the world and have been around longer than the mafia and their history can be traced back to the year 1612.

For the Yakuza it doesn't matter which country you come from or from which class of society you belong to, Yakuza members must be willing to die for their boss.

Today's many Yakuza gang factions are patriarchal in nature but women are integral parts of Japan's gangland society. Wives, mistresses and girlfriends of top Yakuza figures often undergo extensive tattooing. These women sometimes use tattoos to demonstrate their affiliations with the gang lifestyle. In some cases it's done to show loyalty and obedience to the Yakuza member they are involved with.

Irezumi is the art of tattooing in Japan. This word means insertion of ink. This can be referred to a tattoo artist, the person who gets the tattoo, or the tattoo itself.

The Japanese Samurai who would tattoo themselves so if they died in battle would also use tattoos and their clothes and armor looted after; there would still be a means for them to be recognized.

In modern Japan, it is now widely thought that if you have a tattoo you are in the Yakuza, the Japanese mafia. A lot of establishments, especially hot springs and bathhouses, will not let you enter their establishment if you have any form of tattoo.

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 Body Suit Tattoos - What is it Like to Live in a Full Body Suit?

In the 1700 DC, the noble were allowed to wear fine clothing and adorn themselves, whereas the laborers were restricted from wearing those fine clothes and adorning themselves. So, the middle class choose tattoos as an alternate method of adorning themselves. This is when the idea of "body suits" came into existence. This concept of body suit was mainly derived form the samurai warriors campaign coats. These coats displayed the heroic designs such as pride and great bravery, at the back. Even a dragon or a guardian was displayed on the coats.

These Full Body tattoo were mainly designed in Japan, which covers nearly the full body. This Japanese Body tattoo Suit initially began from the back but now its extended to cover the shoulders, arms, thighs and gradually covers the entire body. With the growth of the popularity of the fictional heroes, body suit tattoos have also grown with it.

One kind of Japanese body tattoo was one; that covers the entire upper body leaving only a vertical strip exposed from chest the abdomen. This gives the illusion of a body suit or unbuttoned vest. By achieving the body suit, one gets a feeling of self satisfaction and gives them the opportunity to move on with their personal achievement.

The Japanese Body Suit tattooing, explains not only the art involved but also the political and the social forces that is involved in the Japanese culture. This art is the top pick of the college level arts that best holds the culture and history of Japanese art. There are many Tattoo events and tattoo shops in big cities which make body tattooing a popular among the people of Japan.

These Tattoo design can be completed in one sitting, similar to the traditional tattoo designs of America or tribal tattoo designs. Tattoo specialists, still do traditional irezumi, which means the insertion of ink that leaves a permanent tattoo or mark on the skin. Japanese body suit is very expensive and time consuming. Japanese government wanted to project the image of modern Japan to the west thus outlawed tattoos which impressed the foreigners to seek the skilled tattoo artists.

The Rich History of Tattoos

Tattoos have a long and interesting history. Tattoo art has been used for a wide range of purposes, including religious celebrations, decoration, and cosmetic purposes. The earliest evidence of tattooing dates all the way back to around 3300 BC. During these early centuries, most tattoos depicted a variety of different animals, fish, and monsters, and some evidence suggests that some tattoos were used as a therapeutic treatment for arthritis.

Since ancient times tattooing has been popular in regions such as India, China, and Egypt. In the Philippines, tattoos had tribal significance, and full body tattoos were common to signify tribal rank and accomplishment. In Japan, tattoos were used for decorative and spiritual purposes. And tattoos also seemed to be quite prevalent in northern and central regions of Europe, but as Christianity spread throughout the continent, tattooing became associated with paganism and lost its prevalence.

In the late sixteenth century, however, worldwide explorations reintroduced tattoos into Europe. In the 1600s Sir Martin Frobisher traveled to China and took a woman captive who had tattoos, and she was a popular attraction in Europe. Other similar events took place, and one English nobleman returned from an expedition with his own tattoo. And in the next several decades, tattoos became increasingly associated with sailors who frequently got tattoos on expeditions to Asiatic countries.

In the mid-eighteenth century, the first use of the term "tattoo" was recorded by Captain James Cook in Tahiti who observed the practice of body modification among the indigenous people. And in the late nineteenth century, King George V received a couple of tattoos while in Japan, and later his two sons also received tattoos which started a family and royal tradition. Tattoos became quite popular among the gentry in England, and it was estimated that one in five noblemen had a tattoo.

Today, tattoos are becoming more accepted in almost all cultures, except in Judaism which forbids the practice of tattooing. In the past, tattoos were applied using a variety of procedures, but in contemporary times, electronic tattoo machines are the most popular tools used in tattooing. And, as in ancient times, tattoos have also regained popularity among women.

Since around the 1990s, tattoos have becoming increasingly popular, particularly in North and South America and Japan. Consequently, the notion of tattoos as an art form has also risen in popularity as is evidenced by that growing number of tattoo art exhibitions and galleries.

Japanese Tattoo Lettering - History, Basics, and Style

In Japan, tattooing and tattoo lettering began primarily as an expression of spirituality. From approximately 300 BC to 300 AD, a Japanese tattoo always conveyed a certain religious meaning for its bearer, and also served as a decorative status symbol.

During this period, tattooing was meticulously practiced and highly regarded. For the tattoo artists, tattooing was not just an occupation, but a way of life. For instance, aspiring apprentices had to train under masters for many years before becoming credible and acknowledged tattoo artists, which are called "horis" in Japan. Only a horis was allowed to create full body suit tattoos.

All that changed when the government began to etch tattoos on criminals as a means of punishment. During the Meiji era, the Japanese government outlawed tattooing and forced artists to practice underground. It was legalized again in 1945, but until now, Japanese tattoos have never completely shaken off the negative association with common felons and the Yakuza, Japan's longstanding infamous mafia. Consequently, people sporting tattoos are known to be banned in many public baths and massage parlors by apprehensive business owners. Despite all this, Japanese tattoos continue to gain popularity domestically and worldwide because of the outstanding artistry of the designs and the deep mystical symbolism inherent to them.

Japanese tattoos are formed using words, images, and numbers, or different combinations of each. There are three kinds of scripts in Japanese:

• Kanji - originated from traditional Chinese characters. Intricate and beautiful, these characters are used to convey concepts.
• Hiragana - developed during the Heian period by women. It represents sounds, and looks feminine.
• Katakana - series of characters developed by Buddhist monks. The style is sharp and masculine, and represents sounds.

Kanji, hiragana, and katakana are combined and used for lettering and can be written vertically and horizontally. Katakana is generally used for foreign names, places, and words that are of foreign origin. For Japanese tattoo lettering, people often use Kanji.

In the same manner as there are different lettering styles in English writing, there are also different writing styles to create Japanese characters. They are:

• Kaisho, is the Japanese equivalent of block style.
• Gyousho, is the equivalent of cursive style.
• Sousho, is an extreme form of cursive, perhaps the equivalent of fancy Old English lettering.

Called "irezumi" and "horimono", Japanese tattoos are stunning but are rather complicated to create because there is no actual alphabet for the Japanese language. Written communication is a group of symbols representing sounds or general concepts. That's why it is so important to find yourself a tattoo artist who has extensive knowledge and expertise with the Japanese language, and its attached symbolism. Before getting a Japanese tattoo, it is best to follow these guidelines:

• Know the difference between kanji, hiragana, and katakana.
• Familiarize yourself with the writing styles and choose the one that appeals to you the most.
• Choose a word that would translate logically into Japanese. Some phrases may be coherent in English (e.g. "Big Daddy) but may be ridiculous when converted to Japanese (e.g. Large Father).
• Always remember to check before having any inking done.

Tattoos Through History

The history of tattoos is as old as the history of man. Not long after they were walking upright people were decorating their skin using charcoal dust and sharpened animal bones, thorns from bushes and trees, sharpened sticks and stone tips. Not long after they began tattooing, they began thinking of tattoo removal. As humanity spread around the globe so did the practice of tattooing. Tattoos represented status, tribal affiliation, decoration and sometimes even punishment. Ancient Japan was the home of some of the greatest practitioners of that art. Many of Japans ancient heroes had their entire body covered with tattoos and some of those designs live on today although the most frequent practitioners of that ancient art today are organized crime members.

Tattooing slowly made its way to Europe, becoming popular following the exploits of Captain James Cook and his men. Intrigued, some of the crew under went tattooing after seeing the beautiful body art on the Polynesian men. It was a way for a lonely sailor to catch the eye of a Polynesian woman. When they moved on and eventually returned to Europe the sight of a tattooed sailor eventually led to the rise of tattoos in the popular culture of Europe in the 1700's. Today the popularity of tattoos has emerged as never before and over 25 million Americans have at least one tattoo.

The ancients of Japan and the South Pacific used handheld bamboo shoots and needles to puncture the skin for the pigment to be inserted under the skin. Today, modern tattoo machines offer the precision necessary for the perfect tattoo. The ink is deposited at the perfect depth creating, in most cases, a perfect example of the art as practiced today. For those experiencing tattoo regret, the difficulty of tattoo removal presents a real challenge. Combine the precision of a modern tattoo machine with modern pigments and it requires the most sophisticated techniques, such as Laser Surgery or Trichloroacetic Acid to remove a tattoo.

Award Winning Tattoo Design For Everyone

What is tattoo? Tattoo is a mark made by inserting pigment into the skin; in technical terms, tattooing is dermal pigmentation. This sort of marking can be made on human or animal skin. Tattoos on humans are a type of body modification, while tattoos on animals are most mainly used for identification or branding.

Tattooing has been practiced worldwide. The Ainu, the indigenous people of Japan, wore facial tattoos. Tattooing was widespread among Polynesian peoples, and among certain tribal groups in the Philippines, Borneo, Africa, North America, South America, Mesoamerica, Europe, Japan, Cambodia and China. Despite some taboos surrounding tattooing, the art continues to be popular all over the world.

It has been around for thousands of years and has a direct link to culture and symbolism of each culture. Tattooing has been a Eurasian practice at least since Neolithic times. Even mummies also bearing tattoos and dating from the end of the second millennium BC have been discovered at Pazyryk on the Ukok Plateau. In Japan it is thought to go back to the Paleolithic era, some ten thousand years ago. Various other cultures have had their own tattoo traditions, ranging from rubbing cuts and other wounds with ashes, to hand-pricking the skin to insert dyes.

In the past tattoo served as rites of passage, marks of status and rank, symbols of religious and spiritual devotion, decorations for bravery, sexual lures and marks of fertility, pledges of love, punishment, amulets and talismans, protection, and as the marks of outcasts, slaves and convicts. The symbolism and impact of tattoos varies in different places and cultures, sometimes with unintended consequences. For example shamrock tattoos are believed to belong exclusively to the Aryan Brotherhood (within their range of the US prison system), but on the streets of America a shamrock tattoo can stand for whatever the wearer wants it to.

Today, people choose to be tattooed for cosmetic, sentimental/memorial, religious, and magical reasons, and to symbolize their belonging to or identification with particular groups (see Criminal tattoos). Tattoos of favorite bands and football teams' logos are fairly common in the west.[citation needed] Some Māori still choose to wear intricate moko on their faces. In Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand, the yantra tattoo is used for protection.

Top Female Sleeve Tattoo Designs - For Something Feminine and Sexy in Tattoos

Sleeve tattoos have been very popular recently. Many men have gotten full, half and even quarter sleeve tattoo featuring flames, Japanese designs and other such designs. However, women are now also starting to get full sleeve tattoo designs. However, they are not getting the same types of designs as men. For the most part women want a more female tattoo design or their sleeve. However, since this is kind of a new area many women are not sure what to get for their design. This article will help identify some ideas that might help in formulating your own thoughts and coming up with your own design. These of course are just some suggestions from experience.

Koi Fish Sleeve Tattoos

Koi fish of course are a very popular design theme in Japan. Many of the most traditional forms of tattooing in Japan frequently use koi fish. In Japan and in China the Koi fish is thought of as a symbol for power, freedom and independence. These are symbols that can speak to many women either being something they desire or something they already have. Thus koi tattoo designs can make a great option for sleeve tattoo designs.

Lotus Flower Sleeve Tattoos

Lotus flower tattoos are also another great option. Again these are more popular in Asian countries. However, lotus flower tattoo designs are also now becoming very popular in United States. They are deeply symbolic and can stand for striving, spirituality, or even just womanhood. Their shape and design can easily be made into a very beautiful sleeve tattoo design. The way the lotus flower rises up from the mud to the surface of the water can also be use in designs a lotus flower sleeve tattoo design.

Angel Tattoo Sleeve Designs

Angels are of course a very popular design for women and can go just about anywhere on the body. However, they can also make a beautiful sleeve tattoo design hat is still feminine and cute while looking large and covering the full sleeve easily. The wings can spread out around the arm and make a beautiful tattoo design.

Flower Sleeve Tattoos

Flowers always work well for any feminine tattoo design and there are many different flowers out there. Each flower of course has a different set of symbolism and meaning behind it so it would be smart to check out any symbolism or meaning before getting such a tattoo. However, there are tons of really beautiful and symbolic flowers. The Hibiscus and plumeria flower can work well for a full sleeve tattoo design as well as the Cherry Blossom can work.

Star and Nautical Star Sleeve Tattoo Designs

Stars of course are always a favorite choice by many women for tattoos. They can work well just about anywhere including the upper back, ankle and even the foot. The beauty and symbolism of star tattoo can easily be adapted into a beautiful full sleeve tattoo design. A cluster of smaller stars, a nautical star or even a really large shooting star can all be incorporated into a sleeve tattoo design beautifully.

Cherry Blossom Tattoo Designs - The Meanings Revealed

In these days cherry blossom tattoos designs have increased in popularity among tattoo enthusiasts. This running after separate cherry blossoms tattoos has given rise to a high interest within the meaning and symbolism of cherry flower in both Japanese and Chinese cultures.

Since tattoos are very private things they may say a lot about the person so it is important to obtain the appropriate tattoo for the right motive. As the cherry flowers mean various things in Japanese and Chinese society you should be aware that people in those environments might respond quite differently when they see it.

Cherry Blossoms In Japan

Japanese cherry flowers, known as Sakura are Japan's unofficial national flower. For many centuries the flowering of these blossoms has been celebrated and has been a remarkable part of the Japanese culture.

Cherry flowers represent the transience of lives because of their extremely short period of blooming. Falling flowers are considered to be metaphors for fallen warriors who perished courageously in a battle. This association with death is very symbolic in Japan and has been used in traditional art there for many centuries, together with the latest anime or manga.

Alternatively, it can give you a new vision of the fragility of life and help you make the most of your short time on this earth.

Chinese Cherry Blossom Tattoo

In Chinese culture, cherry flower signifies power, is a symbol of feminine dominance. If you are a powerful woman who values her freedom and liberty or if you have recently come out of a difficult relationship it's a good idea to get a flower tattoo.

Is also good to know that cherry blossom is given as a gift in China as a symbol of love.

Getting a real thought of your Cherry Blossom Tattoo

In cherry blossom tattoo designs there are not many various designs available so the best way out is taking into account the different varieties of cherry flower for tattoo designs.

Cherry Blossom Tattoos - Discover The Symbolism

Cherry blossoms are becoming extremely popular tattoos among women throughout the western world. Cherry blossoms are regarded as very beautiful and sensual body adornment tattoos. However, before you decide to have a tattoo, perhaps you may like to know a little more about the cultural symbolism and history of this delicate and beautiful bloom.

There are a wide variety of cherry blossoms, known as Sakura, and they are indigenous to many East Asian countries including Japan, China, and Korea. These blooms are particularly symbolic in Japan, where they symbolize the sky due to the way they bloom in cloud like formations. Due to their short life and quick death together with their extreme beauty, they are often associated with mortality.

The symbolic nature of Cherry blossoms often influence Japanese art, manga, anime, and film, as well as at musical performances, which is where many of todays tattoo artists gain their inspiration. The popularity of these sensuous tattoos among western women is also influenced by the fact that cherry blossoms are symbolic of love, affection and good fortune. There short but beautiful life also represent the transient, fleeting nature of our own lives, and demonstrate the importance of living life intensely, as in the fullness of time, we are only on this earth very briefly.

There are also important links with the Samurai period in Japanese history, and the flowers appear on many objects of the time, such as Kimonos, sliding doors and screens. Even in modern day Japan, the symbol is used widely on consumer goods including clothing and pottery.

Cherry blossoms were painted on the sides of Japanese aircraft during the second world war, before they embarked on suicide missions. Again they would symbolize the fleeting nature of life. The Japanese also believed that the souls of their air crews lost in battle would be reincarnated as cherry blossoms, and Japanese colonialists often planted them to symbolize the territory becoming part of Japan.

Yakuza Tattoos in Japan

The sound of the word "Yakuza" may mean a lot of things to a lot of people. It could mean power, criminality and outlaws. The Yakuza is a term used to refer to the modern breed of Japanese outlaws associated with similar activities as the Mafia. Unknown to many, the Yakuza existed even before the Sicilian Mafia, which started in Italy. In Asia, people are often frightened with the word Yakuza.

Yakuza members can easily be spotted in a lot of ways. They have an odd way of wearing clothes and their hairstyles are distinctly peculiar as well. They also have a certain air and pride to themselves and exude negative social behavior. Policemen and other members of the society would often notice them because of their horrid acts. Another thing that identifies a Yakuza is their tattoos.

Although tattoos are considered as a body art, for most of the Yakuzas, tattoos has been a symbol of their notorious organization and a way of identifying their members. You can find the symbol of a Yakuza's clan on his chest area. The Yakuza have a certain liking with the art of body tattoos. Tattooing symbolizes boldness and brevity which are some of the things that the Yakuza stands for. Getting a tattoo is also a sign of non-conformity and in some culture tattooing has been an act of going against the mainstream culture. The tattoo is a great accessory to a Yakuza member because of what it intrinsically symbolizes.

Yakuza tattoos come in different styles and forms. They are often done in colored inks and their designs make bold statements. Yakuza tattoos are often placed in body spots that are often exposed for the entire world to see. You can often see them on their hands, arms, chest and necks. Because of the relation of Yakuza to tattoos, you cannot blame a normal Japanese to be afraid and slightly frightened of some people with large and daring tattoos. It is common for heavily tattooed people to be banned in public and some exclusive hotels. Yakuza is known to tattoo their own members. If you see a black ring around an arm of a Yakuza, this can stand for the number of crimes he committed.

The Yakuza is often related to drug sales, prostitution, gambling and other criminal activities. They fund their group by extorting money from local businessmen. They would extort merchandise stores, restaurants and other business establishments like the government would ask for tax. This is one of the things that they do that makes them a lot of money.

With the rise of modern Japan comes the rebirth of the Yakuza. Today, the Yakuza do not want to be associated with breaking the law any longer. There are Yakuza members who open heartedly help the poor people of Japan. Yakuza groups are often referred to as boryokudan which means violent group. This branding offends a number of Yakuzas. When Kobe, a place in Japan, was hit by an earthquake, it was the Yakuza who helped them and protect the less-capable people. Then on, it was known that not all Yakuza are violent people but they are people, nonetheless, who have a heart that can reach out to poor people.

Fish Koi Tattoos

The word "koi" comes from Japanese. Koi fish are specially bred in Japan for their color. A prize example can be valued in the $100,000 range. Koi are a type of carp and have been cultivated and bred in Japan for possibly thousands of years.

If you have been to Japan you will notice they are a common feature in most traditional Japanese gardens. They most likely originated from Eastern Asia, Aral, Black and Caspian Seas. Earliest records of Koi have been found in China and have been widely spread in Japan.

For the Japanese koi fish represent strength and power because they are often able to lift their entire body up and jump out of the water. Koi fish tattoos are beautiful and wildly popular right now. Koi fish tattoos of course have a long history and go all the way back to ancient Japanese times and it is a definite Japanese or Asian tattoo theme. Therefore the tattoos that represent koi fish often show them splashing in the water and water flying everywhere which shows of their strength. Plus as an added bonus they are an absolute beautiful fish and the colors of them lend themselves to a tattoos.

The beautiful bright oranges mixed witht he blues of water make for an ideal tattoo plus since they are traditionally a Japanese tattoo they lend a sort of forgien mystery to their air.

Koi Fish tattoos are now very popular among men and women. Typically men get them on their shoulders or calf and women like to get them as a lower back tattoo.There are a few out there that also get them as full back tattoos with more of a tradition Asian design.

The color scheme of the Koi fish tattoo is very important element. A common color scheme would be the Yen Yang design of black and white. Most of the cases, the color scheme work the best if integrate with your shin color. For instant, if you have a dark or olive skin color it may be more suitable to choose a bright hue so the Koi fish tattoo to make it more visible.

Cherry Blossom Tattoo - Commemorate a Trip to Japan

Body art is on the rise in popularity among many people young and old. Tattoos are an individual's way of making some sort of statement that they want to carry with them permanently. Many people choose tattoos of the names and dates of loved ones that have passed away and others have portraits of their children applied in various areas. Others may simply desire a simple butterfly or a cherry blossom tattoo. Whatever one can imagine can be drawn and used as a tattoo on their body.

Delicate Detail

Most tattoo shops have several tattoo artists on staff with different talents from the very simple design to the one with the most intricate of detail and color. One would need to pay especially close attention to detail when applying a tattoo such as a cherry blossom tattoo with all the various shapes and shades of color that would be desired. Many of these are so large they turn into projects for the artist of choice as they may take weeks to complete especially if many different color are to be used.

Significance

A person's choice of tattoo most generally signifies something in their own personal life experiences as with an individual who may request a cherry blossom tattoo. These cherry blossoms are the flower of the cherry tree and well known for their breathtaking appearance. They bloom in springtime and in Japan where these very popular to the extent that they hold many celebrations in honor of the cherry tree. So for someone who may have been in Japan for one of these celebrations and had a memorable experience, this may be the significance in getting a cherry blossom tattoo. Others may have tattoo art applied as a means of being involved with certain groups and is often used by gangs in order to identify other gang members. Law enforcement uses these markings to help evaluate what gangs may be territorial in their areas. These gangs all apply the same tattoo at generally the same location after initiation has been completed.

Technique

One should always check out the place where they plan on having a tattoo of any kind applied. It should be well kept and their technique should be sterile. All tattoos should be covered for a period of time recommended by the artist and all directions followed. Any unusual redness around the tattoo after a short amount of time should be looked at by a medical professional in case an infection has began.

Popular Japanese Tattoo Meanings, Symbolism and Designs

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.

Hannya Masks

Hannya masks are scary looking and demonic masks. The mask comes from the famous Kabuki plays in Japan and it depicts a women who has been consumed with rage over a lover or someone that has not returned her love. There are different variations as each Kabuki play has a different interpretation. At any rate these masks represent a jealous women. However, they have been widely used in Japanese tattoos and also here in the west. When they are used in tattoo in it is believed that they will ward of evil spirits and bring good luck to the person wearing it. Japanese will also sometimes but these up for display high in the room of their house to ward off evil spirits.

Samurai

Samurai of course lived by the code of Bushido. There is not enough room here to full explain the code of Bushido but it deals with living life to the fullest, being prepared to die in service and being loyal and strong. The concepts of Bushido are pretty much at the heart of all Japanese values and morals and also what is taught to most young kids over and over again through stories. You could say the code of Bushido is the heart of the Japanese culture and beliefs. Samurai's and samurai tattoos of course are the best symbol of these beliefs.

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.

During that time in Japan, criminals were tattooed with the nature of their crime and the geographic location where is took place. Members of outcast groups were also marked with stigmatizing tattoos. These people include the 'hinin' who were lowly entertainers and the 'eta' who slaughtered animals and tanned leather.

By the seventeenth century an intriguing form of tattooing called 'irebokuro' (from "ire" meaning "to inject" and "bokuro" meaning "beauty spot") started to enjoy widespread popularity. This special form of non-pictorial tattooing often symbolizes one's undying loyalty or love and would include the name of a lover, for example.

In the mid-eighteenth century during the Edo period a Chinese folklore known as Suikoden that revolve around the adventures of 108 bandits became wildly popular in Japan. They led a Robin Hood-style life and devoted their lives to fighting against the wealthy and corrupt government officials.

One of the most popular outlaw characters in the novel is Shishin or the 'Nine Tattooed Dragon' who bore extensive full-body tattoos. Soon Japanese from all social levels started to tattoo ornate designs (irezumi) on their bodies that depict heroic figures, gods, mythical creatures and other traditional and popular images.

From then, irezumi flourished until the mid-nineteenth century when it was forcibly stopped by the Emperor Meiji as he viewed it as an immoral practice favored by the much-despised Westerners. By now, Japanese tattooists or 'hori' had become immensely popular with the newly-arrived American sailors and merchants.

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 Polynesian Islands:

The Polynesian Islands are located in the South Pacific. There, it is considered originated the most beautiful and mastered of ancient tattooing. There, they generally have larger tattoos, generally on most of their faces. Sadly, in the 19thcentury, tattooing was banned on many of their islands. This unfortunately led to the loss of many of their tattooing traditions and designs.

Hawaii:

Traditionally, tattooing in Hawaii would portray a person's social status. The tattoos there also were not only for decoration, but also provided spiritual and physical protection. In Hawaii, tattoos often contain lizards, sea turtles, tropical flowers and other symbols of their ancient traditions.

Samoa:

The tattoo in Samoa is very important in signifying social class. It is a very special affair when the Chief's son is tattooed. Their tattoos generally cover the lower torso down to the knee, much like a pair of shorts. Generally, these tattoos are given when the child reaches their teen years, marking their entry into adulthood.

Japan:

Japanese tattooing has had a very large influence on what we know as tattooing today. Military personnel would come back from Japan with Japanese designs such as large, intricate dragons. Western artists would copy these designs or get these tattoos themselves. Some have said that today's tattooing practices are a combination of the old western style and those Japanese tattoo styles. Many western tattoo artists specialize in Japanese style tattooing.

Marking Criminals:

In earlier times, Japan came to adopt some of their practices from China. In China, tattooing was used to mark criminals, as it was considered a form of punishment. Japan started using tattooing as a replacement for the death penalty. They perfected a design that would identify criminals. This marking put them in the lowest social class, and caused them to disassociate from their family and friends. Tattooing eventually became popular again, and at this point, other types of punishment started to take form as replacements.

The Beginnings of Modern Day Tattooing:

Sailors that came into contact with the different cultures began to collect tattoos, started to tattoo each other, and started bringing ideas home. These ideas eventually went to England, then to New York, where the ideas and technology flourished. It then became able to use machines to make tattoos, and between people copying the "sailors", or "circus freaks" the western world started to be curious. With today's television shows like "Miami Ink", tattooing has really become mainstrea

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.

Koi Tattoo Meaning and Symbolism - The Rich History of Japanese Tattoo Designs

One of the most popular trends and designs in the world of tattoos right now are koi fish tattoos. It is pretty obvious to see why these designs are so sought after. They are deeply symbolic, mysterious and beautiful all at the same time. They are bright and colorful and when they splash in the blue water behind them they can make for a dynamic tattoo that is full of power, symbolism and movement. If you are considering getting a koi tattoo design then you should really know what the symbolism and meaning is behind them first.

The Story

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.

The 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.