Chinese Tattoo Designs

Chinese Tattoo Designs

Chinese art has always been a symbol of elegance and beauty, but over the last decade Chinese tattoos have had an explosion in popularity. The evidence of this can be seen in nightclubs, college campuses and celebrity photos, amongst other places. But what, besides the beauty of the art, would make these tattoos so popular? The main reason is that Chinese symbolism can be used to express so much, while still remaining simple and clean.

One of the most recognizable examples of this are kanji symbols. Though kanji writing has been adopted in Japan, the Chinese style of kanji has some modest differences and a wider vocabulary. These tattoos are often seen expressing certain emotions such as love, peace and even friendship.

Another common example in Chinese tattoos is the Yin and Yang. The exact meaning of this symbol is perfect balance. Each side represents a contrast; Yin being dark, earthly and female, Yang being light, airy and male. However, there are several ways people use this symbol, there is the classic round piece to start. Then the Yin and Yang enclosed in a lotus flower, the lotus flower being a another symbol of balance, not to mention perfection and purity. You can also do a Yin and Yang eye, which represents both an internal and an external balance; or a Yin and Yang heart, which can mean a balance of emotions.

chinese tattoosOne of the more striking pieces in Chinese tattoos is the dragon. Once associated with criminals, it has since become something of a trend in popular culture. The draw of this particular piece is that the dragon is seen as a symbol of power and even mystery. Many people, though, get these tattoos for aesthetic purposes without knowing exactly how they differ. For instance, a yellow dragon without horns is renowned for its knowledge, while a horned dragon is known to be the strongest of creatures.

Create beautiful scenes. For instance, bamboo — which is considered a symbol of longevity for its strength and resilience — and clouds as a backdrop to cranes, who are considered signs of wealth, long life and power; or deer, who are similarly thought to represent longevity through endurance and grace.

Chinese tattoos have long been associated with their meaning and each individual has their own reason, be it an expression of who they are, or who they want to become; a symbol of change in their life, or a reminder of those they love most. What makes a Chinese tattoo perfect is the variety and simplicity, being able to convey strong emotions with small symbols, not to mention that they will always be aesthetically powerful and graceful.

Hawaiian Tattoo Designs

Hawaiian and tribal designs are certainly popular amongst the tattoo world. In this article we will combine the two together to get a better understanding of Hawaiian tribal tattoos.

Tribal tattoos have always had a deeper meaning than just the decorations they represent today. Often they indicated rank in the community, skill, or family. As far back as the ancient Celts whose tattoos indicated a warrior’s abilities, tribal tattoos have identified some aspect of the bearer as they followed the musculature lines of the body and not the random placement of today. Most tribal tattoos were done as a silhouette of black or blue. Polynesian tattoos such as Hawaiian ones were brighter, larger, and more colorful than the Celtic ones.

Hawaiian tribal tattoos differ in that they are personal identifiers. Dolphins with their expression of joy, Arrows, and Sea Turtles with their symbolism of fertility all have meaning specific to the person they are on. One of the most common tattoos you’ll find in Hawaiian tribal tattoos is the Orchid with its beautiful petals and bright leaves. In fact while most people consider floral tattoos to be feminine, the orchid tattoo is often displayed by men of Hawaiian tribes. The rare ghost orchid when used as a Hawaiian tribal tattoo is an identifier of “rare beauty.” Another powerful tattoo reflected in the Hawaiian culture, the lizard, with its representation of both fear and respect was certainly a tattoo to pay attention to. Often the wearer’s rank was expressed by the size and location of the tattoo. The more prominent it was the higher the rank.

Typically, Hawaiian tribal tattoos would be on the leg, arm, face or body. The woman’s tattoo would be on her tongue, hands or wrists. Whether you want a dolphin to reflect the joy you’ve found, a ghost orchid for its rare and delightful beauty, or a tribal band on your arm or leg, Hawaiian tribal tattoos are a great way to express your homage to the Hawaiian culture.

Half Sleeve Tattoo Designs

Half Sleeve Tattoo Designs

Sleeve tattoos are definitely not for the amateur tattoo enthusiast. Whether getting a full sleeve, or only a half sleeve, these designs are not only bold, but very visible. However, if hiding your body art is not an issue, sleeve tattoos can be visually amazing, and leave you quite a bit of room for symbolism.

Some of the most popular styles for sleeve tattoos come straight from Celtic designs. Celtic knots are by far the most popular style in this genre, and rather than being several small pieces placed together, they are usually one long, unending thread that wraps around the arm. For a simple knot design you could either create a flowing version of the Dara knot (a symbol of strength and wisdom), or a plain spiral. For something a bit more intricate you could create a patchwork design of several different Celtic knots. For instance, you could use a row of triquetra knots (the emblem of a perfect threefold unity), and beneath it a row of quaternary (which has a similar meaning to the triquetra, only fourfold instead of three). Animals are also a frequently used symbol for arm sleeves: butterflies, horses, and even mythological beasts such as griffins are very common.

Floral artwork is also regularly used for sleeve tattoos. These designs often feature vines creeping up and around the arm – usually from wrist to shoulder – with small buds blossoming from the skin. It is not uncommon to see other things mingled with these vines. For instance, you may see insects such as ladybugs, spiders, or bees buzzing around the flowers; you may also see fantasy figures like fairies or elves clutching at the vines. For a different twist, the vine could make up the body of a snake or dragon with its head resting at the wrist, or even slithering beyond the sleeve onto your chest or back.

Most sleeve tattoos are a combination of many symbols that have significance to the wearer. For example, you might see a design that shows a cross the length of the upper arm surrounded by clouds with a bright sun rising up from behind it. You might also see a star sign mingling with the planets and stars that make up that particular character. Many people also like to use the symbol of a koi fish swimming upstream; however, you may like to create a fuller scene by using other Japanese symbols such as frogs (symbols of good fortune) idling in the more placid pool of water below the stream; butterflies (emblems for joy) flying in the sky above the stream, or even dragonflies (symbols for victory) swooping over the surface of the water.

There are an endless amount of images and symbols you can use, but whatever you decide upon, sleeve tattoos will always be one of the boldest styles around.