The History of Japanese Tattooing SelfMade Monsters

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The History of Japanese TattooingSelf-Made
Monsters

• Lauren Crocker

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Tattooing has a long history in Japan

• What are some of the traditional symbols that
  have been used?
• How have the symbolism and meaning of tattoos
  changed in Japan?
• What purposes has tattooing served in Japan?

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Brief History

• Irezumi- Japanese word, refers to the insertion
  of ink under the skin to leave a permanent,
  usually decorative mark a form of tattooing
• People who inhabited the peripherals of Japan
• Ainu people
• Tattooed faces and arms
• Okinawan people
• Tattooed hands and feet
• For people in mainland Japan
• Used for punishment for heinous crimes

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Brief History

• Mainland Japan
• Brand slaves and
• Distinguish groups of outcast people
• These tattoos were much more limited in size and
  elaboration
• Tattooing as a punishment abolished in 1870

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Traditional Symbols

• Kanji symbols
• Folk heroes
• Religious figures
• Stylized background
• Wind and wave designs
• Extremely colorful designs
• Dragons, fish, gods, flowers etc.

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Tattoos Changed

• In full glory- covers entire back and adjoining
  parts
• Main character with smaller figures on arms or
  legs
• More limited Western-style- wan-pointo
• Covers smaller areas

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Purposes of Tattooing

• To punish criminals
• Words like dog or pig
• Geishas used Classical Irezumi tattooing- enhance
  their beauty
• Traditionally cover the entire body
• Enthusiasts have their own art galleries
• Japanese fascination- has a perverse, erotic and
  sado-masochistic aspect

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Alternative Beliefs and Practices

• Position and size indicated differences of rank
• 3rd century
• Nihonshoki- punishment
• Signs of barbarianism and savagery
• As a response to Nihonshoki
• There was a rise of subcultural code of
  resistance
• Used to symbolize the Deviant other
• Signify an association with certain groups
• Gang affiliation- Yakuza

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Alternative Beliefs and Practices

• Today
• no other style can compare in colure, form,
  motion or light and shade of background
• Among young people there is an association with
  play but,
• Tattoos are often obscured from view
• Only viewed during special occasions
• Associated with play, which may include club
  culture

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The importance of time, place and culture

• Irezumi- greatest period was in the 17th and 18th
  centuries
• In the 19th century- associated with lower
  classes
• Japanese tattoos are detailed, depicting symbols
  and meaning but,
• Tattoos are often obscured from view in Japan
• People with tattoos are often barred from public
  bathhouses

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References

• Facts
• Atkinson, Michael. (2003, August). Tattooed The
  Sociogenesis of a Body Art. University of Toranto
  Press. Retrieved October 13, 2008, from
  http//books.google.com/books?idBUxKHJAUSxgCpg
  PP1dqtattooedsigACfU3U23a oeNVfkown3Lk0st5G7Tf
  wbg9g
• Favazza, Armando R. (1996, May). Bodies Under
  Siege Self-Mutilation and Body Modification in
  Culture and Psychiatry. Johns Hopkins University
  Press. Retrieved October 13, 2008, from
  http//books.google.com/books?idBwQT9fdZNdgCprin
  tsecfrontco verdqbodiesunderseigesigACfU3U0
  Kb5pcTMJMSEBYBTtMwJNtvQpsw
• Hendry, Joy and Massimo, Raveri. (2005, April).
  Japan at Play. Routledge. Retrieved October 13,
  2008, from http//books.google.com/books?idEWc4d
  Qjh- HUCprintsecfrontcoverdqjapanatplaysig
  ACfU3U3D_TVbel U9RAzxMJHs-6uQVn3goA
• Irezumi. (n.d.). Retrieved October 13, 2008,
  from http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irezumi
• Kenner, T.A. (2006,September). Symbols And Their
  Hidden Meanings. Retrieved October 13, 2008,
  from http//books.google.com/books?idI8P2sZPHEOE
  Cprintsecfrontcoverdqsy mbolsandtheirhidden
  meaningssigACfU3U20a8_5ql4dKHpmHfRizwqeW RK_SA
• Sanders, Clinton. (1990, May). Customizing the
  Body The Art and Culture of Tattooing. Temple
  University Press. Retrieved October 13, 2008,
  from http//books.google.com/books?id5umuEQz- RA
  MCprintsecfrontcoverdqcustomizingthebodysig
  ACfU3U2CIc_wrA BT_XkL827X1NpMuY3qZg
• Pictures
• http//www.tattoosymbol.com/upload/images/kanji_pe
  rserverance.jpg
• http//search.barnesandnoble.com/Tattooed/Michael-
  Atkinson/e/9780802085689/?itm4
• http//images.google.com/imgres?imgurlhttp//bp1.
  blogger.com/_GsGfS9uLmSI/RxetDdIb9xI/AAAAAAAAAIg/7
  LJE-w2nZbM/s400/irezumi4.jpgimgrefurlhttp//muhs
  ashum.blogspot.com/2007_10_01_archive.htmlh300w
  400sz45hlenstart4usg__077A2wffcEaIQKQJrq7
  HVFm7XP0tbnid3asnDW6WyYdctMtbnh93tbnw124p
  rev/images3Fq3Direzumi26gbv3D226hl3Den
• http//www.tattoosymbol.com/upload/images/kanji_pe
  rserverance.jpg
• http//www.virtualginza.com/gif/yakuza1.jpg

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Quiz

• 1) What is the Japanese word referring to a form
  of tattooing?
• (A) Ainu
• (B) Irezumi
• (C) Okinawan
• 2) Name two common Japanese symbols used in
  tattooing.

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Quiz

• 3) Mainland Japan originally used tattooing for?
  (name one)
• 4) The greatest period for Irezumi was in the?
• 5) During the 19th century, tattoos were
  associated with which social status?

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Answers

• 1) (B)
• 2) Possible Kanji, Folk heroes, Religious
  figures, Wind and wave designs, Dragons, fish,
  gods, flowers
• 3) Punishment, branding slaves or distinguishing
  outcasts
• 4) 17th and 18th centuries
• 5) Lower-class