Traditional Japanese tattoos originated in the Jomon period (10,000 B.C – 300 A.D.), where tattoos were used as a form of social marking, spiritual protection, and as a way to signify social status. They often depicted scenes from mythology and nature. They are particularly associated with the indigenous Ainu people of Japan, particularly the women, who heavily tattooed their faces to indicate marital status and motherhood.
These highly artistic tattoos, known in Japanese as Irezumi tattoos, are a stunning combination of tradition, symbolism, and artistic talent. Characterized by detailed designs, brilliant colors, and skilled shading. Japanese tattoos often illustrate the natural world, spiritual concepts, and mythical creatures with detailed and skillful precision.
What may start as a simple line drawing is soon transformed into a rare work of art in the hands of skilled and talented artists trained to do Japanese-style tattoos. They can bestow the feeling of fluid movement in a tattoo, whether through the image of a koi fish in a pond, the energy of a dragon, or the uplifting presence of the mythical Kirin.
The beauty and intricate majesty of Japanese tattoos make every one of them skilled pieces of living art that convey a story about their owners.
The Kirin
The Kirin is a mythical creature of grace, beauty and power often seen in traditional Japanese tattoos. There are several variations of the visual characteristics of the creature, and it can resemble a “Japanese unicorn” or “Chinese giraffe” in the hands of different artists. The Kirin is a symbol of prosperity, purity, and divine protection, and it conveys significant spiritual and symbolic meanings. The meanings include:
Purity and Righteousness
The Kirin is a symbol of righteousness and purity. It appears only in regions governed by a just and moral ruler. In Japanese culture, it’s a sign of peace and good fortune, indicating the arrival of a virtuous leader.
Divine Protection
The Kirin is associated with protection. It can dispel negative energies and purify environments, making it a common protective entity in mythology and tattoo art.
Blessings and Prosperity
The Kirin’s appearance in a Japanese person’s tattoo may symbolize the desire for success, protection against bad luck, and a prosperous life.
Balance and Harmony
Images of the Kirin often depict the creature in a peaceful state, symbolizing harmony and the delicate balance between the flaws of the natural world and the perfection of the divine world. The creature represents the concept of yin and yang, and suggest that opposites can coexist in peace.
Physical Characteristics
The Kirin is typically depicted as a hybrid creature, although the images can have several variations. It’s often seen to have the body of a horse or deer-like animal and the hooves of a goat. The head shows the most variation. It’s often seen as dragon-like with antlers, covered in fur or scales and a horse’s mane of flowing hair. It is sometimes shown in flight, surrounded by clouds or flames, illustrating its mystical and divine nature.
Kirin in Japanese Tattoos
In an Irezumi tattoo, the Kirin is a powerful symbol of wisdom, prosperity, divine protection, and peace. It’s often positioned in larger, more intricate tattoos that symbolize the wearer’s connection to spiritual power or the desire for good fortune. The rich detail provided by a skilled artist trained in Japanese tattoos places the Kirin naturally in many colorful fantasy scenes that illustrate the wearer’s beliefs and dreams.
Placement of Japanese Tattoos
Japanese tattoos can be placed anywhere on the body, but the most common locations for traditional tattoos are: the back, the arms and legs and the chest or side.
- Back: The back provides the latest area to create fanciful scenes of the Kirin and other elements.
- Legs or arms: The legs and arms are often used to create longer illustrations that wrap around the limbs.
- Chest or aide: A tattoo containing the Kiren can be placed on the chest, which represents strength and protection. It can also be placed on the side of the body, underneath the arms where it represents a combination of spiritual and physical strength.
Celebrities with Japanese Tattoos
There aren’t many international celebrities with Japanese tattoos, as they require a lot of time and skill to complete, and not many tattoo artists can do them well. Recording artist John Meyer is one of the only Western celebrities to have a Japanese tattoo.
Choose PUREInk. for Your Japanese Tattoo
Our tattoo artists are skilled at creating vivid and artistic tattoos based on the authentic Japanese style. Visit PUREInk. to get a Japanese Tattoo in Bangkok.