8 Ink Beyond Borders: Oriental Tattoo Design Guide
Show off your love for East Asian culture proudly with these stunning ink ideas.
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Some tattoos are simply beautiful, while others are stunning and meaningful at the same time. If you prefer the latter, oriental tattoos are perfect for you. They draw inspiration from traditional Asian art styles. You can find numerous motifs featured in them, such as cherry blossoms, koi fish, dragons, kitsunes, and tigers. They may also include symbols like the yin-yang or traditional Asian calligraphy text. These tattoos are ideal for anyone who wishes to pay homage to their eastern roots or is passionate about their culture. In this article, we will take you through the meanings of some popular oriental tattoos and explore some of the best ink ideas. Scroll down to choose your next tattoo!
In This Article
Meanings Of Oriental Tattoos
An oriental tattoo simply refers to a tattooing style that draws inspiration from traditional East Asian culture, particularly Japanese and Chinese cultures. These tattoos may have different meanings depending on their designs. Here are some common ones and their respective meanings:
- Koi Fish: It may symbolize determination, overcoming obstacles, masculinity, and strength.
- Dragon: It may represent wisdom, power, strength, good luck, and protection.
- Cherry Blossoms: They may be a sign of beauty, vitality, and the transient nature of life.
- Phoenix: It may symbolize rebirth, renewal, new beginnings, and immortality.
- Lily: It may stand for purity, innocence, renewal, rebirth, femininity, and grace.
- Kitsune (Japanese Fox): It may symbolize cunning intelligence, good fortune, and long life.
- Tiger: It may be a symbol of courage, strength, fearlessness, and protection.
- Yin Yang: It may represent the balance and harmony between opposing forces, such as good and evil.
- Bamboo: It may symbolize resilience, strength, longevity, and adaptability.
These were just a few designs you may come across in oriental tattoos. The following section features a bunch of tattoo ideas featuring these motifs. Check them out!
8 Oriental Tattoo Ideas
Here are some stunning and meaningful oriental tattoo ideas that are sure to make heads turn wherever you go!
1. Japanese Oriental Tattoo
Here is a vibrant oriental tattoo for you! It features a koi fish swimming in water. Japanese culture admires it for its bravery and fearlessness. This is because these fishes can swim against strong currents. This tattoo can remind you of your ability to overcome obstacles in life with perseverance and determination.
2. Oriental Lily Tattoo
If you are into floral designs, check this tattoo out! It features an oriental lily known for its large, fragrant blooms and intricate petals. The tattoo symbolizes purity, femininity, and elegance. Its placement on the thigh also provides ample space to display the beauty of the flower. You can also get this tattoo on your upper back.
3. Oriental Flower Tattoo
Delicate, ethereal, and graceful – these exact words come to our mind when we see this piece. It features cherry blossoms, also known as sakura in Japanese. Since these flowers bloom in spring, they symbolize new beginnings. They also represent the fleeting nature of life and remind us to cherish every moment before it fades away.
4. Oriental Temple Tattoo
The pagoda (tiered Buddhist temple) is another element you can choose for your oriental tattoo. It symbolizes spirituality and enlightenment. The temple featured in this tattoo is surrounded by cherry blossoms and mountains in the background. Together, these elements represent a spiritual journey full of personal growth and achievements.
5. Oriental Tiger Tattoo
The tiger is also known as tora, which is short for totsugeki raigeki in Japanese. This translates to ‘lightning attack.’ The tattoo above is true to these words and represents the tiger with a roaring expression and fierce eyes. These symbolize its ferocious and fearless nature. In modern spirituality, this tattoo may also represent wisdom and personal strength.
6. Oriental Dragon Tattoo
This super detailed piece on the back features a dragon inked in Irezumi style and a black and red palette. In Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese cultures, dragons symbolize wisdom, protection, strength, and good luck. You can opt for this tattoo if any of these ideas resonate with you or if you wish to pay tribute to these cultures.
7. Oriental Hand Tattoo
Hand tattoos are edgy and bold, and an oni is the choice perfect for them. This mythological creature is a yokai or ogre in Japanese folklore. This oriental tattoo design above features its mask in muted black and red shades. It is surrounded by intricate designs that extend up the arm. This tattoo symbolizes protection from bad luck and omens.
8. Oriental Themed Tattoo
This tattoo is perfect for anyone looking for a feminine design for their next ink. It features a female kitsune with piercing eyes. Kitsune is a fox spirit in Japanese folklore with intelligence, wisdom, and shapeshifting abilities. The tattoo symbolizes the ability to adapt and navigate life’s challenges with the flexibility and wit of kitsune.
Oriental tattoos are a perfect choice for anyone who is of East Asian origin or loves the culture. They may include elements featured in the mythologies of any of the countries in this region, such as China, Japan, and Korea. Depending on the motifs, these tattoos may carry numerous meanings, such as strength, intelligence, and transformation. The designs listed above feature some of the best oriental tattoos ideal for both men and women. Use them to pick your next ink!
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