April 2012
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Kirin 麒麟
The Kirin is said to have the body of a deer, the tail of an ox, the hooves of a horse, a body covered with the scales of a fish, and a single horn. The Kirin appears only before the birth or death of a great and wise person. Said to live in paradise, the Kirin personifies all that is good, pure, and peaceful; can live to be 1,000 years old. It is a good omen associated with serenity and...
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Nozarashi/野曝し
Nozarashi is a subject that isn’t overly popular, but I wanted to post about it as it is something I really dig. Apparently this subject is very rarely seen on kimono designs and I hear said kimono’s can be quite expensive.
Nozarashi, meaning “exposed in a field”, is a motif of skulls, bones, and/or skeletons. It is can be found most often in men’s items and other...
frenchtoastwizard asked: If you could explain how seasons work in Japanese tattoo, for example I've read where Sakura, being a spring symbol should only be associated with a Koi swimming in one direction, but not the other... any of that kind of info would be greatly appreciated!
Anyone have requests? I will get to it later today
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Hou ou/Phoenix
Hō-ō 鳳凰 or Hou-ou, Ho-o, Hoo-oo Feng 鳳 represents male phoenix, yang, solar Huang 凰 represents female phoenix, yin, lunar
A mythical Chinese bird, thought to have been introduced to Japan in the Asuka period (mid 6th to mid 7th century AD). The phoenix has a bird’s beak, a swallow’s jaw, and a snake’s neck; the front half of its body is thought to resemble a giraffe, the back...
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Koi/Carp
Koi 鯉
The carp (Jp. = Koi 鯉) transforming into a dragon is a common artistic theme from old China. This theme is based on a Chinese legend (Jp. = Koi-no-Takinobori 鯉の滝登り) wherein carp swim, against all odds, up a waterfall known as the “Dragon Gate” at the headwaters of China’s Yellow River. The gods are very impressed by the feat, and reward the few successful carp by turning...
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Tora/Tiger
The tiger 虍 (tora) is not indigenous to Japan but is derived from a Chinese tradition which views the tiger as a symbol of strength, courage and longevity. Chinese thought regards the tiger as supreme among land beasts with the ability to ward off demons, bad luck and disease. I guess in a sense the design could offer the wearer a sense of protection.
I would highly recommend taking a read...
dancingwiththedevil- asked: Thanks alot again. I've seen a design where they don't actually appear to be fighting each other, would this have the same meaning?
dancingwiththedevil- asked: Have you got any information on images of Dragons fighting Tigers? As in what the image represents, maybe different elements of the image and any other information? Thanks.
