Irezumi

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Irezumi is Japanese for tattoos, and Japanese tattoos have their own style created for centuries. Irezumi is done by hand, using wooden handle and metal needle attached through silk thread. This method also requires a special ink called ink nara. It is a painful and time consuming process, performed by a limited number of specialists. The tattoo artist is called Horishi, and usually has one or more interns who work for him for long periods of time. They are often part of a horizontal tattoo family. Irezumi was originally associated with firefighters, who wore it as a form of spiritual protection. They are admired by prominent figures of courage and sexual excitement, inspired by imitation. At the beginning of the Meiji period, the Japanese government banned tattoos, and Irezumi took the connotation of criminality. Many yakuza and other criminals now avoid tattoos for this reason.

Video Irezumi

Language notes in Japanese words

In Japanese, words can be written in several ways, each with slightly different connotations. The most common way of writing irezumi is with Chinese characters ??? or ??, literally means "insert ink". The characters ?? (also pronounced bunshin) suggests "to decorate the body". ?? more esoteric, written with characters for "fixed" or "fixed" and "blue" or "green", and probably refers to the appearance of the main shading ink under the skin. ? (meaning "tattoos") are rarely used, and characters ?? combine the meaning of "piercings", "stabbing", or "puncture", and "blue" or "green", referring to traditional Japanese methods of tattooing by hand.

Maps Irezumi

History of Japanese tattoo

Tattoos for spiritual and decorative purposes in Japan are expected to extend back at least the period J? Mon or paleolithic (about 10,000 BC). Some scholars argue that the typical sign-pattern patterns observed on the faces and bodies of figures dated to that period represent tattoos, but this claim is by no means unanimously accepted. However, there are similarities between these signs and the tattoo traditions observed in other contemporary cultures.

In the next Yayoi period (c 300 bc-300 AD) tattoo designs were observed and commented upon by Chinese visitors. Such designs are considered to have spiritual significance and function as status symbols.

Beginning in the Kofun period (300-600 AD) tattoos begin to assume negative connotations. Instead of being used for ritual or status purposes, tattoo marks begin to be placed on criminals as punishment.

Ainu Tattoo

The Ainu people, native to Japan, are known to have used tattoos for decorative and social purposes. There is no known relationship with irezumi development.

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Japanese Tattoo in Edo period

Until the Edo period (1600-1868 AD), the role of tattoos in Japanese society fluctuated. Signs of tattoos are still used as punishment, but minor modes for decorative tattoos, some featuring designs that will be finished only when lovers join hands, also come and go. It was in the Edo period, however, Japanese decorative tattoos began to evolve into an advanced art form known as today.

The impetus for the development of art is the development of woodblock art and the release of the popular Chinese novel Suikoden, a tale of courageous rebellious and courageous courage illustrated with luxurious woodblock prints that show people in heroic scenes, their bodies adorned with dragons and other mystical animals, flowers, ferocious tigers and religious images. The novel was an immediate success, and the demand for the type of tattoo seen in the illustrations was simultaneous.

Artist Woodblock starts tattooing. They use many of the same tools to embed designs on human flesh as they do to make their woodblock prints, including chisels, gouges and, most importantly, the unique ink known as Nara ink, or The black naman, the famous ink turns greenish under the skin. There is an academic debate about who is wearing this complicated tattoo. Some experts say that it is a lower class that wears - and flaunts - such a tattoo. Others claim that wealthy merchants are banned by law from showing off their wealth, wearing expensive irezumi under their clothes. It is well known that irezumi is associated with firefighters, gallant figures and harsh sex appeals, who wear it as a form of spiritual protection.

Tattoos in modern Japan

At the beginning of the Meiji period, the Japanese government, wanted to protect its image and make a good impression in the West and to avoid ridicule, forbidden tattoos, and irezumi take the connotation of crime. Nevertheless, the fascinated strangers went to Japan looking for tattoo artist skills, and traditional tattoos continued underground. The tattoo was passed by the occupation forces in 1948, but retained its crime image. Over the years, traditional Japanese tattoos have been associated with yakuza, the famous Japanese mafia, and many businesses in Japan (such as public baths, gyms and hot springs) still ban customers with tattoos.

Although tattoos have gained popularity among Japanese youths due to Western influences, there is still a stigma among them among the general consensus. Unlike the United States, even finding a tattoo shop in Japan may prove difficult, with tattoo shops especially placed in very touristy or US friendly military areas. According to Kunihiro Shimada, president of Japan Tattoo Institute, "Today, thanks to years of government oppression, there may be 300 tattoo artists in Japan.

There is even a political impact today for tattoos in Japan. In 2012, the mayor of Osaka, Toru Hashimoto, started a campaign to rid the company of its employees with tattoos. According to an article written on Hashimoto, "He is on a mission to force workers in his government to recognize tattoos in clear places, if they have them they must remove them - or find work elsewhere." Hashimoto's conviction was well-received by the public as well, with many large "tattoo-phobic" companies, taking sides with him. Modern tattoos in Japan are done similar to the western ones. Unlike traditional irezumi, where most tattooing decision-making is left to the artist, customers bring the design of their choice or can decide what they want in the store. Many Japanese artists are experienced in various styles other than traditional Japanese tattoos, giving customers the ability to choose from a wide range of choices, anywhere from tribe to new age style. Modern tattoos are done through an electric machine, where ink can be inserted into the machine or the tip of the needle can be dipped into the ink for the application. Japanese artists are praised for the quality of their work, though somewhat expensive, and highly sought after. "Despite the widespread discrimination against people with tattoos, with regulations that prohibit tattoos from being hot springs, golf courses and gyms, it's still one of the best places in the world to get the best quality ink work."

Although most modern tattoos are done by needle guns, irezumi is still done traditionally. Ancient tattoo styles are still done by specialist tattoo specialists, which may be hard to find. Unlike western style tattoo artists, the majority of traditional irezumi artists are not located in the Tokyo area. It's painful, time-consuming and expensive: a typical traditional body suit (covering your arms, back, upper legs and chest, but leaving unattended space to the center of the body) can take one to five years of weekly visits to complete. and costs over US $ 30,000. The process is also much more formal than western tattoos. While western tattoo artists tend to do what customers want, traditional irezumi artists tend to go back and forth with customers and discuss what they want tattoos to look like as well as the right to refuse service. Instead of electric guns, wooden handles and metal needles attached through silk threads are used.

Process

The prospective tattooee must first look for traditional tattoo artists. This alone can be a daunting task (although it has been made easier with the advent of the Internet) because such artists are often surprisingly closed, and introductions are often word-of-mouth.

Traditional tattoo artists have been practicing for years under a teacher. They will sometimes stay in their master's house, and may spend years cleaning the studios, observing, practicing on their own flesh, making needles and other necessary tools, mixing ink, and painstakingly copying the design from the master's book before they are allowed to tattoo the client. They must master all the complicated skills - unique shading styles, techniques used for tattooing by hand - needed to create a tattoo that will be requested by their clients. They will usually be named tattoos by their masters, most often combining the words "hori" (engraving) and syllables that come from the master's own name or some other important words. In some cases, apprentice will take the master name, and it will be The Second or Third (and so on).

After the initial consultation in which the client will discuss with the design tattooist they are interested in, the work begins with the outline tattoo. This will usually be done in one sitting, often without hands (without using stencils), which may take several hours to complete. When the outline is completed, shading and coloring is done on weekly visits, whenever clients have money to set aside. When the tattoo finishes, the artist will "sign" his name in the space provided for that purpose, most often somewhere behind.

Traditional tattooists often keep their art secrets, as tattoos are still seen as a sign of criminality in Japan, especially by parents and at work. Many yakuza and other criminals now avoid tattoos for this reason.

Japanese tattoo word glossary

• Irezumi (???, ??, ?? (also pronounced bunshin), ??,? or ??): tattoo (noun or verb)
• Horimono (???, ??, literally engraving, engraving): tattoo. This is another word for traditional Japanese tattoos.
• Horishi (???, ???): tattoo artist.
• Bokukei, bokkei (??): a punishment with a tattoo.
• Tebori (???, literally hand-carved): explains the tattoo technique by hand.
• Hanebori (???, literally carving with feathers): hand tattoo technique using hairy movements.
• Tsuki-bori (????): a hand tattoo technique that uses thrusting motions.
• Kakushibori (????, literally hidden carvings): tattoos near the armpits, inside of the thighs and other "hidden" body areas. Also refers to the tattoos of hidden words, for example among the petals.
• Kebori (???): tattoos of fine lines or hair on tattooed figures.
• Sujibori (???): outlines the tattoo.
• Shakki : the needle makes when they pierce the skin.
• Irebokuro (????): from ire or ireru, which means insert, and bokuro or hokuro, beauty spot
• Jobori (???): Tattoo "Yo" (West). The Japanese-English slang term for tattoos is done by machine.
• Sumi (?): Ink used for tattoos, traditionally mixed by apprentices
• Hikae : Chest Tattoo Tattoo
• Nagasode (??): Arm tattoo, to wrist
• Shichibu (??): 3/4 arm tattoo, to the forearm
• Gobu (??): Tattoo arm 1/2, above elbow
• Donburi S? shinbori : full body tattoo without opening
• Munewari (???): a chest tattoo with a middle opening
• Taubushi : full armpit tattooed
• Koban gata
• Katabori : not triangular armpit tattoo
• Hanzubon : tattooed shorts; inner thighs filled completely with tattoo work
• Munewari S? shinbori (???????): Body tattoo full of opening in chest

General Motives

Some common images in traditional Japanese tattoos include:

• Animals and mythological monsters: Dragon, Kirin, Baku, Dog Foo, H? -? (??)
• Animals: Birds, Koi, Tiger, Snake
• Flowers: Peony Flower, Sakura Flower, Lotus, Chrysanthemum
• Other plants: Bamboo, Maple leaf
• Characters from traditional folklore and literature, such as Suikoden
• The "floating world" image is inspired by ukiyo-e prints: geisha, samurai
• Buddhist and Buddhist gods like Fud? I?-? and Kannon
• Our shinto (god) is like a tengu
• Background: clouds, waves, wind blades.

See also

• Penalty in Edo-Japanese period
• Criminal tattoo
• T? yama no Kin-san
• Yakuza

References

Further reading

• Andrews, Joshua. Tattoo Art . howtotattoo.net, 2008.
• Fellman, Password. Japanese Tattoo . New York: Abbeville Press, 1986. ISBNÃ, 0-89659-798-9, ISBNÃ, 0-89659-661-3.
• Richie, Donald, and Ian Buruma. Japanese Tattoo . New York: Weatherhill, 1980. ISBNÃ, 0-8348-0149-3.

External links

• Yakuza Tattoo's Explained
• BMEZine - Body Modified EZine
• Irezumi - Irezumi by Horiyoshi III
• tattoo-navi - irezumi from japan
• 'The way of the Ink' documentary about Irezumi, by Pamela Valente and Pascal Bagot (2010)

Source of the article : Wikipedia