Japanese Symbol Tattoos

Kanji tattoos are not the only kind of Japanese symbol tattoos. While kanji is the most popular form of tattoo in the world, there is much to be said for other types of symbolic Japanese ink. Japan has a rich history, including thousands of years worth of incredible mythology. The tattoos that this history has engendered are legendary.

Hiroku, protector of children and master of the rising sun

Gods and Godesses

Among the most popular symbols in the Japanese cultures are the gods and goddesses. These figures are part of national lore, however, they are also heavily loaded icons that say volumes about the person who wears them. Japanese symbol tattoos and artwork in general are not for the slightly committed or for the faint of heart.

Gods and Goddesses and their Jurisdictions

Below are just a few of the thousands of Japanese gods and goddesses. For a more complete listing, visit The Names of Gods and Goddesses Website. Keep in mind that while this and many other sites have extensive listings, you will be hard pressed to find all the names of all these deities in one location – there literally are thousands of them.

• Benzaiten - goddess of love
• Ho Masubi - god of fire
• Izanami - creator goddess
• Hiruko - sun god
• Ama No Uzume - fertility goddess
• Tsuki Yomi - god of the moon
• Fukurokuju - god of wisdom
• Emma-o – god of the underworld and judger of the dead
• Hiruko – god of the morning sun and protector of children
• Hotei - God of happiness
• Ko-no-Hana – goddess of spring and blossoms

A Serious Commitment

The Japanese understand the deep meaning of these gods and goddesses; you should also be 100 percent clear on what each of these deities is responsible for and capable of before you haphazardly saunter into a tattoo parlor saying, “Oh, I want that one, that one is nice.” Tattooing these figures onto your body is a sign that you wish to live your life as they might, that you wish to be guided by their wisdom and that you will do all you can to be a better person in their eyes and with their help. For example, having Fukurokuju tattooed onto your body may suggest that you wish to be more wise, to help others along their paths, and that you are willing to deal with any of the potentially tough lessons this god may bring your way to help you become a wiser person.

Other Japanese Symbols

There are many other symbols that come from Japan. The obvious and most popular kanji ink is important to mention not just because of its popularity in today’s Western culture but also because it is an enormous part of Japanese tattoos culture. Kanji are also important in the Chinese culture. While Japan and China have their own respective languages, kanji symbols almost always have the same or very similar meanings and are used in both countries and societies.

Hiragana

Hiragana is the Japanese phonetic language which is also used for tattooing and writing. Kanji originated from Han, China approximately 1700 B.C. and made its way over to Japan only in the past several hundred years.

Katakana

Katakana is a part of the recipe which makes up kanji and was created by Buddhist monks in the ninth century AD. Katakana is a symbolic method for writing things out; this form of writing and tattooing is used to create a sense of urgency and deeper emphasis on the meaning of the original word.

Do Your Research

When you decide to get a Japanese symbol tattoo, make absolutely sure you know what your god or goddess, kanji or katakana stand for. The most common error is to whimsically walk into a tattoo shop and decide to get a kanji without properly researching the symbol. It is absolutely imperative to understand that kanji is a highly complex language that includes millions of symbols, many of which are extremely similar. If you want “wind god” you could easily end up with “lady.” This is only one example of the thousands of ways a kanji tat can go wrong when you and your artist do not collaborate on some serious research of symbolism.

External Links

• Samurai Tattoo Designs, a collection of Japanese tattoo designs and Kanji symbols. Also English to Japanese name translations.(not free)

• Free Chinese Zodiac Tattoos
• Day of the Dead Tattoo Ideas
• Cartilage Piercing Gallery
• How Many Tattoos Are Too Many?
• Celebrity Tattoo Quiz

• Wrist Tattoos
• Design Your Own Tattoos
• Star Tattoos
• Angel Wing Tattoos
• Celebrity Tattoo Pictures

• Asian Dragon Tattoos
• Cool Tattoos
• Kanji Tattoos
• Yin Yang Tattoos
• Japanese Dragon Tattoos