Sunday, July 4, 2010

Japanese Tattoo Art - How Has it Evolved Over the Centuries


When it comes to Japanese tattoo art, you either get it or you don't. This is especially true when it comes to Kanji tattoo. Some people see their worth and some people see them as nothing more than characters. If you can appreciate the value of Japanese art and lettering, then you will find plenty of tattoo designs that you really like.

What is the history behind Japanese tattoo art?

This art has been around for several centuries. It's believed that the earliest Japanese settlers had facial tattoos. Throughout the centuries, the art evolved a great deal. it was often customary for the tattooed images to have a lot of details. Intricate details is something that is still present in many designs today. In the early nineteenth century, six very unique and intricate designs were created by Kuniyoshi Utagawa, and they represented the Heroes of Suikoden. They were similar to Robin Hood, and each of the tattoo designs showed a part of their stories.

There were a few centuries during which most people associated tattoos with negativity. Many people believed during those times that only prisoners got tattoos. Obviously, that belief changed somewhat when warriors started getting tattoos. And now, since the rest of the world has become intrigued by Japanese tattoo art, more people from Japan are accepting it as more than just an underground phenomenon. While there is still some negativity towards the art, it is becoming tolerated by more people.

These designs are quite extraordinary when you take a good look at them. Everything from the simplest Kanji character to the huge, sprawling design is fascinating to look at. They contain fine lines, vivid colors, and unique patterns. You need to look at more than just the design itself---you have to look for the meaning.

What types of Japanese tattoo art are there?

Dragons and flowers are both pretty popular elements, along with Kanji symbols that have significant meanings behind them. Dragons can represent anything from fortune to destruction. And, of course, flower tattoos are timeless and beautiful. Extensive artwork can take a good while to finish, due to all the details involved. Some tattoos even take more than one sitting to complete. Trying to draw a detailed tattoo in one sitting is hard on both the artist and the receiver. It's also crucial to take some breaks in between sittings to allow each piece of the tattoo to heal properly.

It is also quite common to see artwork of samurai warriors with weapons. Women usually choose designs with cherry blossoms and lotus flowers. The possibilities are quite endless. When choosing Japanese tattoo art, make sure you know exactly what it means. There is a lot of inaccurate information on the internet about what certain symbols mean. You will find plenty of horror stories of people who get a Kanji tattoo thinking that it meant one thing, only to find out that it actually means something embarrassing! Always consult with somebody who specializes in Japanese art what a certain design means before having it tattooed on your body.

Terry Daniels of TattooDesign-Reviews.com, specializes in helping individuals get the styles and designs they need to make the right tattoo choices. Terry leads his team of tattoo experts in constantly reviewing new products and packages in the market to make sure you get the best value tattoo designs that look good on you. Check out actual user reviews of tattoo design sites and galleries at TattooDesign-Reviews.com.

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