Hanya mask tattoo meaning with a snake. The Meaning of Mythological Images in Japanese Oriental Tattoo

One of the popular images Japanese tattoo- Demon Oni. These ghostly, fearsome creatures are variously described in Eastern mythology and are most often the keepers of hell and the hunters of sinners.

In older tales, there are also good Demon protectors, such as monks, who became Oni after death to protect the temple.

In tattooing, Oni Demons are almost always depicted with horns, and their faces are often mask-like and are usually red or blue-grey in color.

SCULL

In fact, the meaning of the image of the skull in the tattoo is deeper than is commonly believed. Most people do not think about the true meaning of the skull and associate it only with a negative point of view.

But the skull is not just danger, fear or death. Initially, the skull symbolized the "great change." In different peoples, in the burial places, you can see the image of one or more skulls.

In ancient society, the skull meant the celebration of death, that is, the transition to " new life”, showed respect for those who went through the greatest change and entered a new period of existence.

The hannya mask is one of the many masks used in traditional Japanese Noh theatre, which has been known for performances since around the 14th century.

MASK Hannya

The hannya mask is one of the many masks used in traditional Japanese Noh theatre, which has been known for performances since around the 14th century AD. And the masks were used by actors to convey the personality and characters of various characters in Japanese fairy tales.

The hannya mask represents an evil, jealous and vindictive woman who has turned into a demon out of envy and anger. Horns, fangs and sparkling eyes express resentment, hatred and suffering, and scattered hair symbolizes strong emotions.

In a tattoo, the hannya mask is sometimes complemented by masks of other characters, but it can also be a separate work. Traditionally, the hannya mask is made in red, and the brighter and more aggressive the color used, the stronger the emotions expressed in the tattoo.

A characteristic plot of a Japanese tattoo is Namakubi, a severed or pierced head with a vicious expression on the face.

Namakubi (severed head)

A characteristic plot of the Japanese tattoo is Namakubi, a severed or pierced head with a vicious expression on the face. Namakubi can symbolize courage, respect for an opponent, and a willingness to honor one's fate. It can be used as an element of the circle of life or to show others the punishment for an unrighteous life.

Modern young Japanese, apparently influenced by the Western European tradition, often prefer tattoos of a somewhat negative and defiant nature. But if in the subcultures of Western youth there is an element of Satanism and necromancy in its Christian meaning, then the Japanese adhere to their traditional beliefs in demonic beings, which are widely represented in Buddhism, Shinto and in folk tales and beliefs.

They are- in Japanese mythology, the so-called evil humanoid monsters, similar to Christian devils and demons. They are they have red, blue, green or black skin, are crowned with horns, and huge fangs protrude from their mouths. They feed on human flesh and are difficult to kill in combat as the severed body parts grow back into place.
There is a belief that bad person can turn into a demon They are. Especially often in fairy tales, jealous and grumpy wives turn into such monsters, with horns growing on their heads.
In Japan, on February 3, a ceremony is held to exorcise demons - They are to Jigoku (Hell). On the Setsubun holiday, the Japanese throw soybeans over the threshold of their homes (it is believed that They are hate soy) and shout: “ They are go away! Blessings are coming! They are symbolize illnesses and failures that should be disposed of. Actors in scary demon masks take part in the festivities - They are. In theatrical productions They are are defeated by heroes, or dragged away, as servants of the god of death, sinners to hell.
If we talk about tattoos, then here They are have a protective function. In some legends, these demons serve as protectors of worthy people and punish the bad ones. So, for example, if we touch on the yakuza, such tattoos are made by those who carry out the murders of objectionable yakuza people, or are engaged in knocking out debts.

Radzin - god of thunder

In Japanese folklore, there are many varieties of demons, and sometimes it is quite difficult to say which demon this or that tattoo depicts. However, some are identifiable.
Radzin- the god of thunder. Very often mentioned with the wind god Fujin. Depicted as a ferocious horned demon, often tearing a scroll with his teeth. However, this is a positive deity, the protector of the Buddhist faith.

Ondeko man

Ondeko man. It is also called Oni-daiko ("drum-dancing demon"). He is portrayed as dancing a demonic dance, accompanying himself on the drums. You can recognize this demon by round mons (signs) with the image of three commas, symbolizing "heaven - earth - man" or maintaining the equality of yin and yang. Dancers - drummers in a costume and masks depicting this demon, often perform at various Japanese holidays. The ritual dance is designed to promote the fertility of the land, harvest and prosperity. There seems to be a connection between this demon and Radzin, and Ondeko-men may be one of the forms of this thunder deity.

Meaning of the Chania Mask Tattoo

Hanya or Hanna - in Japanese folklore, an ugly horned and fanged demon, into which a vengeful and jealous woman turned. This character is used in some Japanese Noh plays. The Hanya mask is also used in festivities and Shinto rituals, symbolizing vice. Very often depicted on tattoos, but obviously not in a negative sense. There is a version that the image of this demon is borrowed from Tibetan culture, from where many Japanese mythological creatures originate. In Tibet, it was the guardian - the guardian of Buddhism, and "hanna" means the same as "prana" - "wisdom". Often, cherry blossoms, a snake and a bell are depicted along with the Chania mask.

Japanese demon Yaksha

Yaksha - This demon was borrowed by the Japanese from Hindu mythology. There they were beautiful semi-divine beings, born from the foot of Brahma along with demons - rickshasas, but, unlike the first, they were servants of the gods. However, for people they were often dangerous. Yakshini, female varieties of yaksha, drank the blood of children and ate human flesh. Among the Japanese, the yaksha became a vampire - a cannibal, into which people who deserve the punishment of the gods turn. On the other hand, a yaksha can be a harmless "goblin" - "The owner of the forest."

Rokurokubi

Japanese Fox Demon - Kitsune

Kitsune. The image of a fox - a werewolf penetrated into Japanese folklore from China, where it developed in ancient times. In China, these creatures are called huli-jing, and in Korea - gumiho. In Japanese folklore, a kitsune is a type of yokai (demonic creature). Kitsune have intelligence and knowledge, and can live for a very long time. The tail of this werewolf is a necessary attribute for creating illusions, and the older and stronger the fox, the more tails it has. Their number can reach up to nine.
According to the legends, these animals have magical powers and are able to turn into a person - usually they take the form of seductive beauties, but they can take the form of old people. They most often use these abilities to deceive people, and like vampires, they feed on human vitality and spiritual strength. They are also able to inhabit other people's bodies and create illusions that are indistinguishable from reality. However, kitsune often do good deeds, and, unlike the Chinese and Korean tradition, are not evil cannibal demons.
In the Shinto religion, kitsune are the messengers of the god of rice fields and entrepreneurship, Inari, who himself is depicted as a fox. When Shinto mythology was mixed with Buddhism, the fox received, in accordance with Chinese ideas, demonic functions, but in general, in the Buddhist tradition, the werewolf fox has a positive function, as an attribute of the god Dakini.
In tattoos, it can mean dexterity, sharpness of mind, the ability to find a way out in seemingly hopeless situations. In addition, a tattoo makes it possible to charm people and inspire love, as kitsune does in fairy tales.
In the photograph, the kitsune is shown in the guise of an evil demon - a cannibal, which is more in line with the Korean tradition. However, here he acts as a Buddhist guardian, and holds a rosary with the skulls of apostates in his teeth, so the tattoo should not be considered as an indication of the aggressiveness of its owner - it is more an indication of the strength of religious beliefs and a request to protect from troubles and enemies .

Bakeneko - "monster cat"

Japanese bakeneko tattoo

Bakeneko (Japanese "monster cat").
In addition to kitsune (foxes - werewolves) and tanuki (werewolves in the form of raccoon dogs), in Japanese folklore there is another kind of werewolves - cats that can turn into people. An ordinary cat, in order to turn into a werewolf, needed to reach a certain age or size. The strongest backeneko have a forked tail and are called nekomata. As with other representatives of evil spirits, there is an ambivalent attitude towards werewolf cats in Japan. On the one hand, they could help people with their magic, which is mentioned in many Japanese fairy tales and legends, but on the other hand, there are examples when this image was associated with revenge and death. Japanese folk beliefs, a cat can kill its owner in order to take on his appearance, or move into the body of the deceased (until now, the Japanese are trying to keep cats away from the dead). They can revive the dead by jumping over it, or raise skeletons and manipulate them like puppets. Cats can take revenge on their offenders. Kabuki theater has a number of plays featuring werewolves, cats that have turned into humans, usually women. They either take revenge on those who offended them, or the souls of wives killed by husbands are infused into werewolves. But in general, the attitude towards cats in Japan is positive, and they like to be depicted in scenes where they copy the behavior of people, and even in the form of monks.

Tengu. Karasu is tengu and Yamabushi is tengu.

In the traditional Japanese religion of Shinto, there are many deities - kami, among which six are awarded the title "Okami" ("Great Kami"). Five of them are Izanagi, Izanami, Mitikaeshi, Sashikuni and the sun goddess Amaterasu - "amatsukami" ( heavenly kami), and Sarutahiko - the guardian of roads, the spirit of crossroads and the remover of obstacles - "kunitsukami" (earth deity). He is depicted as an old man with a red face and a very long nose. It is believed that the image of Sarutahiko-no-Okami served as a prototype of demonic creatures - tengu (in Japanese, literally "Heavenly Dog").
The Japanese believed in the existence of two varieties of tengu: karasu-tengu (tengu-raven) and yamabushi-tengu.

Yamabushi tengu is a creature that looks more like a human. He has a red face and a very long nose, and sometimes wears wings behind his back. He was nicknamed yamabushi (the so-called monks - hermits who chose mountains for their solitude), because this tengu likes to turn into such monks. Like goblin, they can play a trick on a person who met them, and can even kill someone who harms the forest. However, in fairy tales they often help good people.

Tengu are depicted wearing strange little hats - "tokin" and have a fan of feathers or leaves, which can cause a strong wind.
In Japan, tengu masks are very popular, used in various festivals and in performances of the Kabuki theater.
In Japanese tattoos theatrical masks are additional elements that indicate the character of a person, or serve as a substitute for the full image of the creature whose patronage is expected to be received.

Kama-itachi

Japanese kama itachi tattoo

Kama-itachi refers to demons - youkai from Japanese folklore. In ancient times, the Japanese had a belief about evil whirlwinds - kamaetachi ("attack"). Toriyama Sekien, an artist who studied Japanese demonology, who left images and descriptions of demons - yokai, gave this supernatural phenomenon the appearance of three weasels with claws - razors that, whirling in a whirlwind, cut the skin on the legs of people they meet on the way. He changed the original sound of the word to "kama-itachi" ("weasel sickle") - creating a pun that is very typical of him. These creatures are depicted as a spinning weasel, whose paws end in sickle-shaped blades.

Nure-onna - "Water Woman"

Japanese Nure-onna tattoo

Nure-onna ("Water or wet woman") is one of the most ancient demons - youkai of Japanese folklore. This is a demon with a female head (often very beautiful) and the body of a giant snake that lives either near the river or in the river itself. In some legends, she has hands with sharp claws. She has beautiful long hair, which she likes to wash in the river, round shiny eyes like a snake, sharp fangs and a long, strong tongue - a sting with which she sucks blood or life energy from careless travelers. In order to prevent the intended victim from leaving, nure-onna embarks on a trick. She invites the person she meets to hold her child while she washes her hair, but as soon as he takes him in his hands, the child sticks to them and bends the person to the ground with his enormous weight. It is difficult to say what tattoos depicting this demon symbolize, perhaps disappointment in love and comparison of women with this insidious creature.

Kappa

If tengu can be considered a kind of goblin, then the Japanese variety of water is called "kappa" ("river child"). It is a cross between a frog and a turtle, and has a beak instead of a nose. At the top of the kappa there is a saucer filled with water, which gives it great strength. However, she does not harm a person, although she loves pranks. Sometimes she even helps goodies in fairy tales and legends.

Jankui - "Demon Slayer"

Jankui or Soki - "Demon Slayer". Ghost, according to legend, the protector of the Chinese emperor Huan-son. Jankui committed suicide, and thus became a Gui demon himself. However, he vowed to help people in the fight against their evil brethren. In Japan, this protector spirit has become very popular as it fights against They are. This spirit is always depicted in Chinese clothes and with a sword, with which he defeats evil forces.

Yuki-onna - snow woman

Japanese yuki-onna tattoo

Yuki-onna (jap. "snow woman"). So in Japanese folklore they call one of the varieties of yokai - that is, spirits. She can also be called Yuki-musume ("snow girl"), Yukijoro ("snow harlot"), Yuki-omba ("snow grandmother or nanny") and many other names. Yuki-onna is a very popular figure in Japanese literature, manga and anime.
Yuki-onna is a snowy night in the form of a tall, beautiful woman with long black hair and blue lips. Her inhumanly pale or even ice-clear skin makes her part of the snowy landscape. She sometimes wears a white kimono, but other legends describe her naked. Despite her amazing beauty and grace, her eyes are capable of inspiring fear. It seems to be floating above the snow, leaving no traces behind it, and at any moment it can turn into a cloud of fog or crumble into snowflakes. Some legends say that the souls of those who are frozen in the snow turn into Yuki-onna. For a long time, this spirit was considered an undoubted evil, killing careless travelers, but over time, Yuki-onna began to give more human features. In some works, she even becomes the wife of the person she loves, and only an accidental discovery of her essence makes Yuki-onno forever leave her beloved and her children, leaving for the Underworld.
However, there are other ideas about this ghost. He may look like an ugly old woman - a witch, freezing travelers, or drinking blood or life force from them.

Hatsuhana - pious ghost

Japanese Hatsuhana ghost tattoo

Hatsuhana or Hatsuna is a pious ghost. The character of the play of the Kabuki theater "The phenomenon of a miracle in the mountains of Hakone, or Revenge of the legless" ("Hakone reigen Izari no Adauchi"). A scene from the play is shown where the spirit of the villainously murdered woman Hatsuhana, being under the icy jets of a waterfall, prays to Buddha Amid to heal her infirm husband, and he could take revenge on her killer. Prayer under a waterfall was an ancient Japanese custom that did not change even after the adoption of Buddhism. It was believed that such a prayer has a special power - a person proves his determination, self-sacrifice and great faith, and without fear enters the freezing, whipping streams of the waterfall. The image of Hatsuhana is for those who wish happiness and well-being for their loved ones and are ready to make any sacrifices for this.

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Japan is a country literally permeated with mysticism and filled with sacred knowledge. Each Japanese sacredly honors the traditions of his ancestors and tries to appease the spirits of the lower and upper worlds for the holiday. For this purpose, Japanese demon masks made of wood and painted in bright colors have been used in various rituals since ancient times. These items are of great importance not only in religious rites, but also in the culture and art of the country. This will be discussed in the article.

Japan: the history of the emergence of masks

The mythology of the Japanese is very rich in characters who sometimes have absolutely opposite character traits. The fact is that in Japan it has always been customary to get along with a mass of demons and unclean spirits. The wise inhabitants of the islands never fought with evil spirits, they, on the contrary, cajoled it and, if necessary, could always enlist the support of the spirits.

Masks have always had a sacred meaning for the Japanese, they were often used by samurai in battles. It was believed that the mask not only covers the face, but also, accommodating various spirits, helps the warrior win, instilling fear in the hearts of enemies.

It is difficult to imagine a Noh theater without various masks. The tradition of playing theatrical performances originated around the seventh century. At this time, colorful theatrical shows were held near the temples, and masks were made from clay and paper. They were extremely simple and served to hide the guise of an actor. It was only in the seventeenth century that the Noh theater took shape in something special, and the masks turned into real art. They began to express various characteristic emotions and now served to more vividly characterize the characters of the performance. The masks were endowed with mystical power, and it was allowed to touch them only at the place where the laces were attached. Now in every theater there is a kind of altar on which vintage masks. It is believed that the souls of the actors live in them.

demons: meaning

Colorful masks are used in rituals, theater performances and festivals. Most of them have a frightening appearance and are designed to scare away other evil spirits. For this purpose, they are placed on the facades of houses and in rooms. Keep in mind that Japanese demon masks, despite their terrifying appearance, are quite kind to people. The spirits living in them are able to help the needy and protect the disadvantaged. We can say that good people should not be afraid of demons, but greedy, selfish and hypocritical people will definitely receive punishment from higher spirits. It is worth noting that the variety that distinguishes Japanese demon masks allows them to be used in different situations. Let's look at the most popular of them.

Japanese demon mask: tengu

In tengu, these are the spirits of the forest, sometimes they are compared according to their characteristics with Russian goblin. Tengu are unsociable, love cleanliness and have cunning. These spirits cannot stand arrogance and can punish the one who is arrogant. One of the supernatural powers of a demon is the ability to transform into a human. Most often, he takes the form of a monk living high in the mountains. He helps good people and lives in the branches of twisted trees.

The tengu mask looks like the face of a red-faced old man with a long nose and a fan of feathers. On the demon's head is often placed a small funny cap - tokin. Very often, the mask of the forest spirit is used as a talisman against evil, but you should never harm the forest, otherwise the tengu will turn its anger on the owners of the house.

Demon Oni

Japanese demon masks often feature oni. This evil is very popular in the country and has several varieties. Usually They are depicted on masks in the form of a terrible grimace, distorted by anger, with huge fangs. Demons can be red, black, or gold in color. In mythology, They symbolize fearsome spirits of great stature, who appear everywhere with clubs of iron with spikes. Demons can regrow a severed body part and heal any wound. Quite often, these spirits are associated with trolls or devils living in the Japanese hell.

Initially, They were incorporeal and brought with them catastrophes, illnesses and troubles. Over time, the spirits took on a humanoid appearance, but remained extremely ferocious and often indulged in human flesh.

Exile Oni to hell

Japanese demon masks They are especially often used on the holiday. It is held on the third of February and is widely celebrated in the country. In order to protect their home, the Japanese scatter soybeans everywhere, which they simply cannot stand. AT last years it has become common to scatter peanuts as well, sometimes wrapped in gold foil.

A theatrical procession always takes place on the streets of cities on a holiday. Men dress up in Oni costumes and always put on frightening masks. It is considered very correct to decorate the house with a demon mask: thanks to such a talisman, evil will not enter the house, and all household members may not be afraid to end up in hell in a dream.

Mask tattoos

Tattoos have been customary in Japanese culture since ancient times. The inhabitants of the islands differed in this from the Europeans, who were surprised at the variety of drawings on the body, which were told about by merchants and travelers who visited the Land of the Rising Sun.

Tattoos have always been used by the Japanese to some extent. Initially, they were applied to the body in order to attract good luck in fishing or hunting. By the 700s of our era, body painting began to be divided into drawings for the nobility and those with which criminals were marked. This significantly reduced the popularity of the tattoo, but then it again began to be used by almost all sectors of society. Quite often, tattoos were applied by representatives of various professions, making the drawing a hallmark of the whole group.

Recently, the Japanese mask has become very popular among young people. Absolutely different ones are chosen for the drawing, but for women Chania is preferable. This mask symbolizes a female demon, whose face is distorted by jealousy and passion. According to legend, Chania was once a beautiful girl in love with a young monk. Her lover rejected her, and the girl, in a fit of insane passion, turned into an evil demon, taking revenge on all men who offend the fair sex.

The kitsune mask tattoo is also popular with women. This demon is depicted as a fox and is fatal to men. Kitsune can turn into the most beautiful woman and bewitch a man, and he will do whatever she tells him. Quite often it ends in madness. But the cunning fox herself is hardly grateful to anyone, she always gets what she wants and then disappears.

Is it possible to make a Japanese mask at home?

Many fans of the culture of the Land of the Rising Sun are interested in how to make a Japanese demon mask on their own. You can even find special master classes with a detailed description of the process of creating masks from papier-mâché, but we would not advise you to be content with such artisanal methods. Real Japanese demon masks are real works of art, craftsmen spend several months to make one product. Until now, almost all ritual and theatrical items in the Land of the Rising Sun are made by hand, so it is best to order a mask in Japan. This is the only way to get a truly beautiful collector's item.

The world of spirits in Japan is very closely adjacent to everyday life, because in every house there is at least a pair of masks that protect the house and its inhabitants.

Almost all Japanese masks are the faces of demons and other representatives of the Dark Side. One of the most popular images is Chania - demon mask, symbolizing both universal evil and wisdom (this is how this word is translated from Japanese).

Chania is a reliable protection against evil spirits. The image is easily recognizable because it has a number of canonical features. Chania in the form of a tattoo - strong amulet, erecting a reliable barrier between its owner and the evil demons surrounding him. If you imprint it on the body, then no one will dare to penetrate into it (as well as into the soul).

History of appearance

According to legend, Chania appeared thanks to a talented Japanese monk who created masks for ritual dances. This object depicts the face of a demon with horns and sharp teeth, which are ideally suited to a smile distorted in powerless anger. If you look at the mask from a certain angle, it seems that the demon is crying hysterically. Chania personifies a woman (being not too feminine in appearance) who is jealous and angry. On the stage of the traditional Japanese theater, under this mask, female characters are usually hidden, obsessed with jealousy and turning into real monsters because of it. Samurai often used Chanya (a symbol of a fallen angel) as an amulet to guarantee protection from the enemy. The oldest surviving mask is over 450 years old.

Tattoo Meaning

As noted above, Chania means an evil and jealous woman, obsessed with her base passion and eager to quickly satisfy her sense of revenge. On the basis of the lack of reciprocity on the part of a loved one, the woman turned into a demon. Thus, Chania is nothing but a breath of passion that destroys everything it touches. According to legend, a woman met her beloved man, but did not think of anything better than to burn him with a fiery breath. There is also another prototype of the demon Chania (less known). This is a wise Tibetan guardian and guardian of the basic postulates of Buddhism.

Usually the meaning of a tattoo is interpreted in different ways and largely depends on the person who wants to decorate his body with such an unusual oriental amulet. It can symbolize revenge, protection, a storehouse of wisdom, cunning, inner demons, regret about what happened, raging passions and much more. Thanks to Chania, it becomes clear that only complete despair and deep disappointment can cause jealousy and anger. However, life's wisdom allows us to understand and forgive a lot, evoking compassion in our hearts even for the basest manifestations of human passion.

Image visualization

The demon Hanya (although it is a representative of evil spirits in Japanese folklore) has always remained revered. He is a bright and memorable character. If you see him at least once, then this image is unlikely to be erased from memory. The mask is decorated with large bull horns. The demon's mouth is stretched into a wry smile. The demonic grin consists of many teeth, framed on the sides by protruding fangs. The eyes are slightly slanted, which creates the effect of a sideways glance, thereby enlivening an aggressive and cold image. In general, the character is quite scary in appearance, but at the same time full of suffering. Depending on the angle, the set of his emotions is also different. On the one hand, Chania is terrible in anger, and on the other hand, it is a living personification of torment and regret. So that all these features are not lost when applying a tattoo, the talent of the master is important.

Chania is a suffering soul who accomplished her revenge, but never found peace. The recognition of the image is also due to such a canonical element as the demon's fiery breath. Fire symbolizes the power of destruction, intensified due to unrequited passion. Sometimes the image of the above mask can be supplemented with another eye, personifying wisdom and insight that came (albeit too late). Often, the Chania mask is depicted in combination with a snake, a bell and sakura flowers, which are important components of Eastern mythology.

Colors and master's choice

The Chania mask is traditionally depicted using bright colors, the degree of saturation of which indicates the degree of passion and anger of the character. The greatest indignation and anger is a bright red color. If the colors are somewhat muted, then this symbolizes calmer feelings: love, the desire to possess the object of passion, the desire to hide the beloved from prying eyes. While a rich palette speaks of the emotionality of the demon, less flashy colors represent his restraint, prudence, nobility, aristocracy and wisdom.

Nowadays, tattoos of the corresponding subject are performed not only by Japanese masters, but also by their European colleagues. Japanese culture is filled with mystery, an abundance of different interpretations of images, ethnic flavor, which attracts Special attention. Choosing a Chania mask as a tattoo, a person acquires a talisman that is inseparable from his body, protecting him from misfortunes, driving away evil spirits.

It is important that the emotions of the Chania mask be embodied in the drawing by a talented and experienced craftsman who specializes in oriental themes, who understands it well and has the appropriate practical skills. A qualified specialist will assist in choosing the most suitable sketch and will skillfully convey the whole gamut of emotions of such an ambiguous character in the Japanese epic.

Video: Sketch Mask of Chania

Photo of tattoos from Bloody wave studio

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Mask of Chania: the meaning of the tattoo, photos of works, videos and sketches.

Instruction

Japanese tattoos have a long and rich history. The first evidence of Japanese tattoos can be seen on 5,000-year-old figurines found in tombs. In addition, texts dating back to the 3rd century CE say that Japanese men decorated their faces and bodies with mi. Centuries later, mainly due to the powerful cultural influence of China, tattoos became taboo and were used mainly for criminals. An integral part of the traditional Japanese tattoo was a complex system of symbols that was used to reveal a person's character. It was believed that a tattoo could even change it.

Sakura is a symbol of resilience. Beauty lies in the strength she possesses to survive in the harsh. Blooming means the cycle of human life: birth, flowering, death. The Japanese see this as a direct representation of how life should be. They believe that each day should be lived to the fullest and that the awareness of death should only make us stronger.

The brightly colored carp have a special symbolism in Japanese culture, and their image can even be seen in many temples. The myth says that if a carp can swim upstream to the gates of heaven, it will turn into an a. The image of a carp symbolizes luck, strength, ambition and individuality. Therefore, if you are looking for a tattoo that symbolizes struggle and perseverance, then the Koi carp is the perfect choice.

The mythical dragon is what Japan is usually associated with. Dragons occupy an important place in Japanese culture. A dragon tattoo has many meanings, such as freedom, courage, wisdom, power, strength, and even supernatural abilities. Great importance have the colors used in the image of the dragon, so you need to choose them very carefully.