Deer Tattoos0
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If you put some thought into it you can probably think of someone who is sporting a Chinese tattoo. I know that I can name at least three people that I am personally acquainted with. Probably, seven or more people if I add celebrities to that list. And I can see why Chinese tattoos are popular. They do look really good. But, there is also a dark side to Chinese tattoos that you need to be aware of. The two most common problems are poor translations and inaccurate translations. These may seem like one and the same to you but they really aren’t.
Poor translation Chinese tattoos include things such as someone who thinks that they are getting a phrase like "freedom" when actually they are receiving something that means "Cheap". Inaccurate translations are things that are hard to translate from English to the symbol driven language. Philosophical concepts such as divinity may be very hard to translate into a Chinese tattoo design. So make sure that you find someone who is a native speaker of the language to compose the design for you. And then make sure that you find a qualified artist to do the ink. Trust me, you’ll thank me for heeding this advise.
It’s fascinating how popular Chinese tattoos are in the United States. But, what’s really fascinating is the fact that a lot of people in China look down on Chinese tattoos. Yes, you heard me right. There are very few Asians who would consider getting a Chinese tattoo. It’s simply not done. They are more likely to get symbols of animals or flowers then they are to get a Chinese tattoo. As a matter of fact, a lot of them look down on Westerners who get their language inked on them.
But, if you really want to warrant a chuckle then tell a person from China that a Chinese tattoo is a work of art. They would most likely laugh their butt off. Why is that you ask? Well, it’s really quite simple. Would you get the name of your dog inked into your arm in English and without any decoration and call the word a work of art? Of course you wouldn’t. Chinese tattoos may seem exotic and beautiful to us but they are just words to someone from China. This is just a little food for thought for you ink seekers out there.
Here lately there has been a growing interest in Chinese tattoos. Chinese tattoos are often made up of characters called logograms which simply means a character that represents a word. A reported 6,000 of these ‘hanzi’ characters make up the writing system for the Chinese language. the hanzi characters are said to have been invented by an official in the court of the legendary Emperor Huangdi in 2600 BC named Cangjie. Written in columns, the Chinese characters are read from top to bottom, and from right to left.
Most of the characters are pictographically phonetic compounds, meaning that they’re used for their sounds instead of their meaning. Although Mandarin and Cantonese are two distinct languages, the writing system for each is the same. While pronunciation may be a barrier from one language to the other, the Chinese writing system has remained faithful since ancient times. In addition, many Chinese characters were adopted according to their meaning by the Japanese and Korean languages to represent native words, disregarding pronunciation altogether. So, if you’re looking to have a favorite phrase or word tattooed on your body, think about getting a Chinese tattoo. Chinese tattoos add style and flair to any collection of body ink.
Chinese tattoos started to become popular during the 1970s. That’s when what I call the ‘Asian Invasion’ started. First came the martial art movies. Americans became obsessed with these low budget productions that started as a part of Hong Kong film making. When Bruce Lee became a star in Hollywood, people all over the United States started consuming mass quantities of these Asian action flicks. As a result people began becoming interested in Asian martial arts, particularly Kung Fu and Karate. Membership in ‘dojos’ began to skyrocket.
Then people started getting all kinds of Chinese tattoos inked into their skin. First came the ones that were associated with whatever branch of martial art the bearer belonged to. Then people started to get Chinese tattoos that meant things like ‘Courage"m ‘Freedom" and "Honor". Now, people get Chinese tattoos that have all kinds of meanings. From a favorite phrase to the names of their children. Chinese tattoos have revolutionized the tattoo world in much the same way as Kung Fu movies revolutionized the movie industry. If you want a Chinese tattoo then pick a name or phrase that you like and start the ink flowing. These are beautiful and impressive designs.
I have seen a lot of tattoos that were stunningly lovely to look at, and some of those are Asian tattoos with a lot of chinese symbol tattoos blended in with them. I have always been mesmerized by the mystic Asian culture since I was a very small boy, and when I see something that looks Asian to me, I just have to find out what there meanings are and their history. So many of the Chinese people along the coast of china wear a lot of chinese symbol tattoos compared to the Chinese farmers further inside the country.
I have no idea why, but when I spent some time over in China back in the early nineties, I traveled quite extensively in all areas, and the people along the coast had many more tattoos than anywhere else in the country. It could be that in the past so much trading along the coast brought distant travelers from abroad, bringing their tattoos with them, and that might have made a big impression on the coastal people. Some of the nicest tattoos you will ever see are the chinese symbol tattoos that they use in Taiwan. They have more color and they are used with a lot of grace and they are beautiful right down to the finest detail. A lot of people think that chinese symbol tattoos have to be black and that they are just letters or words, that is not true, there are many that tell a story, and they are beautiful with lots of bright colors.
If I could read Chinese symbol tattoos then I would explain to you what the symbols in this picture mean. But, since I don’t have an inkling about what these Chinese symbol tattoos mean then I will have to go on about how I wanted one of these designs when I was a child. When I was about eight years old, I was simply fascinated with martial art movies. Every chance I could get, I would head to the theatre and watch three of them in a row during the dollar show.
And then I discovered the television series starring David Carradine called ‘Kung Fu" I absolutely loved that show. But, I loved it not because of the plot, which could sometimes be slow, or because of the occasional fight scene. No, I loved Kung Fu because of the cool way that he got the tattoos on his arm. He had to pick up a burning cauldron with his forearms, which burned a tiger on one arm and a dragon on the other arm. That is the closest I think I have ever come to Chinese symbol tattoos. Of course, that may not help you out but it does make an interesting story. |
Flower Tattoos0
The flower tattoo depicted in the photo is of a blue hydrangea on a vine of rose thorns. Each of these elements brings it’s own symbolism to the tattoo. The blue hydrangea is symbolic of peace, openness, and serenity. It has a calming effect and alludes to an inner peace, especially one that may be spiritual. The thorns represent something entirely different. The rose thorns remind us that nothing comes without sacrifice and caution must be exercised lest the admirer prick his finger and draw blood.
So, when you combine the two elements in one flower tattoo it speaks of inner peace and a spiritual life that is only obtained after much suffering and sacrifice. It’s the universal struggle that we all must face in our daily lives. Life has a tendency to beat us down and this flower tattoo is a reminder of the tranquility that we must provide for our own selves. We must center ourselves and be our own safe harbor even in the midst of the strongest gale wind hurricane. This flower tattoo is a perfect example of the deep meaning that a tattoo can speak even when it’s primary purpose is for beauty.
The flower tattoo in the picture is very soft and delicate. I’m not sure what the design is, but I think it’s a periwinkle. Though I wouldn’t want to be quoted on that. Whatever it is it’s a nice design and flower tattoos are starting to become more and more popular. In fact, the most common tattoos are nature tattoos; among them, flower tattoos are the most popular. Such nature and flower tattoos have even been documented in the early history of man. In the earlier times, man used to worship nature and many of their gods and goddesses were representations of nature symbols.
This reason has faded in importance with time. All the same, flower tattoos remind us that we are an intricate and beautiful part of nature. Flower tattoos are more often seen on women than on men. Delicate and intricate flower tattoo designs enhance the beauty of a woman’s body. Women usually get them on their feet, arms, small of the back and shoulders. Flower tattoos can be very detailed with all the petals, leafs and tendrils carefully crafted on the body. Or they can be very simple with just the flower. Which ever one that’s chosen, it should be something that has meaning to your life.
This is an incredible flower tattoo design that is inked on this women’s ankle. It’s a great example of what can be done with a little imagination and the proper placement of a flower tattoo. Now, many women will get a flower tattoo because they like the way it looks. Or, perhaps they get one because their mom was fond of a particular flower. But, before you get a flower tattoo you should really keep two things in mind. One, different flowers mean different things. A tulip has one meaning, while a rose has another.
And the other thing to keep in mind is that the color of the flower tattoo makes a difference in it’s symbolism as well. Red may mean love or passion, while white may symbolize purity or divinity. So, these are all things you need to keep in mind. But, enough with the symbolism, let’s take a moment to talk about this particular flower tattoo. I’m not sure what the flower is but it is artfully done. I especially like the tendrils that come off the main flower’s bud. It’s hard to tell but it looks like the little flowers are on fire. I find that an interesting twist to the whole motif.
I have a small confession to make. I really like flower tattoos. I think that they are very attractive and can be quite eye catching. Now I’m not saying that I would personally get one, because I’m a guy and I think that flower tattoos are exclusively a feminine design. Of course, guys could get this design, but I really don’t think too many would, unless they got a Japanese cherry blossom or lotus inked into their skin. But, on a woman, a flower tattoo is an exquisite and wonderful design element that really enhances just about any part of the female anatomy.
Flower tattoos are especially attractive when placed on a women’s breast or on the hip. Of course a flower tattoo on a woman’s foot is pretty darn hot as well. Just look at the design this woman has. It’s a nice design that flowers very well over the soft bones of her foot. And I really like the colors. The violet and pink hues that make up the majority of this flower tattoo is very sensual. At least it is in my opinion. And I think that the flowers are very pretty and dainty. Don’t quote me on this, but I believe that the flowers in this design are violets, though I’m not exactly sure if I’m correct. No matter what they are they look very nice and the artist did a fantastic job.
I hate to say this but this tattoo flower doesn’t look like it was done very well. But, it is hard to tell from the picture. It might just be that this tattoo is pretty fresh and still pretty raw. Anyway, I believe this tattoo flower to be a rose. The rose tattoo flower in the West represents what the lotus does in the East. It’s a symbol of love, but especially of a love that is pure or passionate. Because of the rose’s beauty, scent and shape, it is the ultimate floral symbol. The rose can also have another meaning.
It can also be used as a symbol of beauty. The tattoo flower in the picture, however, has many thorns along it’s stem. It may mean that this women has had a true love that she lost or wants a lover that she cannot have. I think the thorns represent something altogether, however. I think it’s the bitterness she has at getting a tattoo inked into her skin that wasn’t professionally done. Unfortunately, this is a sorrow she’s going to have to live with for the rest of her life. Hopefully, next time she will work a little more on finding a qualified parlor.
This flower tattoo is a colorful work of art. This flower tattoo uses several very eccentric, very bright colors including blue, orange, yellow, black, green, brown, and white. The petals of the flower in this flower tattoo are a dark, eccentric blue, which fades out into a bright white color. The pedals have small, black veins that lead out towards the center of the flower. The stem of the flower in this flower tattoo starts off with a dark shade of green near the bottom of the flower.
Then the stem leads down and lightens in color and curls up at the bottom. the center of the flower stars off with an orange ring around it, that gradually fades to a yellow tint. Black lines curve out from the center of the flower and touches the white part of the petals. In the background, a large, black tribal sign looms over the back of the flower. This flower tattoo is an elaborate mixture of design and color. This is an epic tattoo that incorporates everything good about nature with everything good in the art world. there are very few tattoos that use color in the way this one does.
Here we have twenty four examples of flower tattoo designs. Twenty four of them to look at and try to get an idea of what you like and what you don’t like. Most of these flowers are roses but not all of them. There are a few other kinds here but I do not know what they are. One has a butterfly landed on it while another has a blank space where a person can have a name or a date, or whatever else they like, put in there. And in a ot of cases of a persons first tattoo, that name or date thing is the most important item.
Because almost all first timers relate their tattoo to a name or date. That’s just the way it gets started most of the time. These particular flower tattoo designs are not all that slick either. They’re alright but nothing to write home about. If I were looking for viable flower tattoo designs I would be flipping through the tattoo books and would have passes up this page pretty quickly. But like I always say, don’t let me make up your mind. If you see something you like among these designs then that’s great and you should go for it.
Thousands of people at this very moment are looking over flower tattoo designs and trying to find the perfect one. This can be a big job but is well worth it if you want your flower tattoo design to have significant meaning. To help you out I’ve compiled a small list of flower tattoo design meanings that should aid you in your quest for the perfect tattoo. Take the common rose for instance. In Western cultures it symbolizes love. But, in the East, the rose has a different meaning altogether.
The rose tattoo’s sister design in the East is the lotus flower. A tattoo with the lotus flower, though, brings with it a little more meaning. The lotus is not only a symbol of love in Asian cultures but it also has come to mean peace of mind and purity of heart. If you fancy yourself a heart breaker and a love taker then you might want to consider the tulip. This flower tattoo design symbolizes somebody who considers themselves to be an excellent lover. Of course, maybe your a shy person and you know it. If that’s the case then consider a flower tattoo design that incorporates the violet in it.
In this picture we have a vine of tattoo flowers drawn out in simple black ink. And though there is no color here, it is easy to tell that this is a very good drawing. Take a good look at it and you will see that it has great detail and very good shadowing as well. Looking at these tattoo flowers one could see a reason for getting this tattoo in full color or in black and white as it appears here.
I think it is good enough to stand up like this but that of course is all personal preference and when it come to such personal choice is where the buck stops when it comes to tattoos. Most people like flower tattoos. Sure, there are some guys out there who may not care for them but I doubt many people dislike them. What’s to dislike about a flower? They are nice looking and they represent life and all the richness one can find in life. Most times people with flower tattoos are the happy and cheerful type of people. Those who always see the glass as half full rather than half empty.
Many people, especially women, love to get tattoo flowers. And why not? Tattoo flowers are beautiful and they just go well with a women’s body. In fact, a flower tattoo can enhance the natural beauty of the female shape. And flowers help to remind us about all that is beautiful in life and nature. A flower represents that moment in time where life is at its best. But flowers are also real and we can relate to them in that they grow and flourish, like us, and eventually wilt and fade away. What kind of flower should a women get? While I can’t answer that question, I can tell you about some of the most popular tattoo flower designs and their symbolism.
Number one on that list has to be the lotus flower tattoo. The lotus flower tattoo has a rich tradition and is considered to be a representation of the spiritual presence in a person’s life. The lotus is a symbol for good luck, strength, long life, honor and respect. Number two would have to be the rose tattoo flower. And we all know that the rose symbolized love and beauty. The final tattoo flower is represented in the picture. It’s a daisy tattoo flower. The daisy tattoo represents purity and innocence. Daisy tattoos have their history in representations around love and romance. In ancient times a maiden would wear daisies in her hair to represent her innocence. That is the same today with the daisy tattoo. |
Joker Tattoo0
This is a joker tattoo that is a direct representation of the playing card symbol. The modern deck of playing cards is based in part on the ancient diving tool used by soothsayers and mystics for hundreds of years, called the Tarot. The Tarot is a deck of many more cards than the standard poker deck contains today; including twenty-one cards called the Major Arcana. The Major Arcana are the cards from the Tarot such as the Hanged Man, the Tower, the Moon, and the Day of Judgement that represent the powerful forces at work in the world.
The Joker is the only remainder of the original Major Arcana from the Tarot deck to survive into our modern playing card deck. Originally called the Fool, the Joker represents eccentricity, unexpected events and possibly madness. The Joker has also been linked to a sort of innocent mysticism, as well. In the Christian interpretation of the Tarot, the Hanged Man is a representation of Jesus on the cross, but the Fool represents the innocence of Jesus and his teachings during his life. A Joker tattoo can also mean that the wearer is a trickster or joker, as well, and that things are not always what they seem. What will the joker tattoo say about you?
This joker tattoo is of course one of the late actor Heath Ledger and it is a very well done one because it is easy to tell who it is. Anyone who has seen the latest Batman movie would recognize this tattoo in a heartbeat. Heath Ledger may have played the most memorable joker ever and he will always be remembered for this role. At this point it is hard to imagine a joker tattoo that is not depicting him. Reasons for getting one of these could vary greatly of course.
I would bet that many people got tattoos like this simply because they loved that one movie. And some probably have gotten a tattoo like this just because they were Heath Ledger fans and wanted to do it in his remembrance. I have to assume there are also those who got a joker tattoo because they like what the joker stands for. That devilish side of all of us gets a kick out of a villain who has so much fun while as go about creating the mess that they do. And even when we know he’s the bad guy, when he’s more fun to watch in the movie then the good guy, strange things always happen.
The Joker is a classic super villain from the hit cartoon and comic Batman. This tattoo is a good portrait of The Joker and captures every aspect of his insane personality. The coloring and shading is phenomenal, and the idea behind the tattoo is amazing. Emphasis is on the smile, which is the joker’s trademark, and which is quite apparent. The addition of a joker card in the background also adds finesse to this portrait, and the details of the small joker on the card are amazingly well done.
The shading around The Jokers smile lines and eyes is fantastic and realistic. The smearing of the make up around the mouth is a perfect little detail to show how crazy The Joker actually is. The mixture of greens, blacks, and yellows for the hair is perfectly shaded together to give it a realistic look. The detail on and around The Jokers eye is intricate and well thought out. Every little crease and wrinkle is pronounced, showing all the smile lines on his face. The teeth are yellowed and the nails on his fingers are long and detailed. This portrait of the famous villain is the Epitome of what a good tattoo really is.
This joker tattoo is epic and is done really well. Its uses a very, very large variety of colors including purple, orange, red, black, blue, green, gray, and white. The eyes of the joker start green near the nose and fade out into a yellowish green near the outside towards the cheeks. The hair starts black at the roots, then starts to fade to a darkish red, and then turns yellow. The hat that the joker is wearing is purple with hints of white, with yellow moons on it.
It also has red and blue stars all over it. The joker looks as though he is ripping out if the skin and reaching out towards you. The shading on the skin is red and black, as though its been torn. the shading on the finger joints of the joker is black and the bone’s themselves are gray. The jokers mouth is open as if he is sneering. the colors all compliment each other, even with such a large variety, and the idea behind the tattoo is original. This is one of those classic tattoos where all you can say is "wow". |
Sparrow Tattoo0
Here we have a partially colored in drawing of a potential sparrow tattoo. A rather pleasant looking image for a tattoo and certainly something that no one would find offensive in any way. Sparrow tattoos in many cases stand for freedom and the ability to simply fly away from your problems and they also have their roots in a lot of old sailor lore, both in relation to sailors and their loved ones and with the birds being signs of land and such things as that to the sailors.
This is the kind of tattoo someone gets when they just want something bright and cheery that no one will be repulsed by. And no one will look at you like your crazy for getting such a tattoo either. At least not many people would. I wouldn’t mind having a sparrow tattoo on myself but if I ever do I would prefer that mine be more realistically colored and made to look more like a real bird rather than a cartoon version of one. That’s just my preference and that is all that counts for each and every one us who gets a tattoo.
What are the significance and symbolism of sparrow tattoos? I glad you asked. Thus the first meaning or significance of the sparrow tattoo came from sailors. Sailors originated most of the classic tattoo designs and sparrow tattoos are no different. Sparrows were seen as a symbol of good luck. Since they flew close to land then a sailor would know he was close to land once he saw a sparrow flying by the ship. This was a good sign as it meant a safe end to a dangerous journey. Over time sailors started ascribing certain meaning behind different sparrow colors and tattoo designs. Most of these have been lost and obscured over time.
However, it is known that a person would get a sparrow tattoo after making a long significant journey for example after crossing the equator or other such long journey. Now as far as the symbolic meaning of sparrow tattoos go, it’s also connected to the nautical occupations. Since sparrows can fly great distances they are often thought of as being free. Therefore sparrow tattoos can also symbolize freedom. Thus many people who have spent time in jail get sparrow tattoos to represent their freedom from jail. And since the sparrow is a fast moving bird, some UK street fighters get sparrow tattoos on their fist, indicating that they can punch fast and furiously.
Sparrow tattoos mean different things to different people. They can be a symbol of the nautical life or represent freedom to those in prison. But, they can also have other meanings. You may not perceive the common sparrow as the bird of love, but many people do. When sparrows mate, they mate for life. Nice idea, isn’t it? So for some people, sparrow tattoos are all about love and loyalty. Sparrows used in this context are often tattooed in pairs. Posed together, they can symbolize a current union. Another popular design is to pose one sparrow looking forward, and one looking back.
This symbolizes letting go of a past relationship, and looking ahead to a new one. Sparrow tattoos have also been used as memorials. The ancient Egyptians believed sparrows would catch the souls of those who had died. In modern times, sparrow tats are sometimes used as memorial designs for loved ones who have left this earth. The birds can be inked holding the ends of a banner that bears the name and birth/death dates of the person being memorialized. But, like many different designs sparrow tattoos can be adapted to fit the personality of the bearer. Thus, they can mean anything you want them to mean.
Historically, the sparrow tattoo started as a sailors’ tattoo. Sailors used to get a sparrow tattoo for every 5,000 nautical miles they traveled. Sparrows were also believed to bring a sailor good luck, so sometimes the sailor got his Sparrow tattoo before leaving the docks, hoping it would act as a talisman, and help bring him safely home again. The ancient Egyptians believed that sparrows would catch the souls of those who had died.
This belief was another cause for a sailor to have the sparrow tattoo, as if the sailor had the misfortune of dying at sea, according to the legend the sparrow would carry his spirit to heaven. In modern times, the sparrow tattoo is sometimes used as memorial designs for loved ones who have passed away. The sparrow tattoo can be inked holding the ends of a banner that bears the name and birth or death dates of the person being memorialized. The sparrow tattoo come in a variety of sizes and can feet most parts of the body. One of the beauties about the sparrow tattoo is that even in small sized it can be very rich in details and colors. |