Koi Fish Tattoos - Strength and Beauty on Your Body

The Koi fish or Carp is a common tattooing symbol with Japanese and Chinese origins. The myth says that Koi are able to transform through their efforts into dragons, or they can climb waterfalls. They are the symbol of perseverance in hard times. The Carp can also represent strength, wisdom, knowledge, and loyalty.

Koi come in various bright colors like orange, gold and yellow. It is no wonder that such myth surrounds this animal and that it is associated with longevity, as it can outlast human generations. Although the average age for a Koi is 15-30 years, there was a specimen which reportedly died at the age of 226. The way Koi swim with their beautiful colors has inspired many artists, including tattoo artists.

Cherry Blossoms, Rose, Lotus Tattoos and More - Beautiful and Classic Flower Tattoo Design

Flower tattoos are classic and never go out of style. It started way back with a rose tat which was a favorite among bikers in the '60s. When more complicated shading of tattoos were introduced, other floral styles follow - the Hawaiian flowers like hibisus, orchid and plumeria and of course, the Japanese sakura or cherry blossoms. The very meaningful lily and lotus also became favorites not only because of their beauty but also because of the deep symbolism attached to them.

Flowers have always been a favorite among tat enthusiasts especial with the females because of their naturally exquisite beauty and the meaningful representation attached to them. When it comes to preferred tat locations for floral designs, anything goes as you see them everywhere. Lately, the rib cage have been becoming a trendy and sexy location for flower images. Perhaps, the cherry blossoms is the most popular one you can see on the rib cage;some have focused on the beauty of the sakura itself while others chose to have it tattooed as a cherry blossom tree.

The Meaning Behind Cherry Blossom Tattoo Designs

Women in search of the perfect tattoo have millions of designs to choose from, including the distinctive cherry blossom. But the task can often be overwhelming. Many women don't want anything too "girly" or ultra-feminine, but at the same time don't want something that's too strong or brash for their personalities. There's also the added danger of getting anything that's too generic or overused.

In reality, the cherry blossom tattoo is the best of both world's a perfect balance of strength and femininity. Because the varieties and styles of this tattoo are nearly as numerous as tattoo artists themselves, it's important to keep some specific things in mind. Since a tattoo will last for the rest of your life, you don't want to make the mistake of deciding on something that you may change your mind about a few years down the road.

The History of Japanese Tattoo Art

Japanese tattoo art has a lot of names - irezumi and horimono in the Japanese language. Irezumi is the word meant for the basic visible ink covering big parts of the body like the back. Japanese tattoo art has a extremely extensive tradition.

Since the influence of Confucianism and Buddhism over the Japanese culture, tattoo art has a damaging connotation for the majority of the Japanese population. In the eyes of an typical Japanese a ink is considered a mark of a yakuza - a member of the Japanese mafia - and a macho emblem of members of the lesser classes.

Japanese Tattoos Art

Unlike the Chinese people, the Japanese people are currently very big on tattoos, but that was not always the case. In fact, for a brief time near the end of WW II, getting or giving a tattoo in Japan was actually illegal. The end of the war brought an end to that crime as well.

The alphabetic characters that appear in many Japanese tattoos are called Kanji. These characters, alone or in combination with others, can display a whole range of human emotions, thoughts, proverbs and poetry.

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.