Culturally Specific Tattoo Symbolism

Japanese Koi Tattoo – As a hugely popular traditional tattoo and practically a rite of passage for many tattooists to design and ink their takes on the hallowed koi, it will inevitably follow that there are multiple opinions upon the symbolism of the Koi fish tattoo. Some see it just as a simple good luck charm. For others, it can symbolize aspiration and advancement, perseverance in the face of adversity and strength of purpose, as it is a Japanese legend that Koi travelling up the Yellow River have a chance of becoming a dragon if they can climb up the Dragon Gate waterfalls. From Buddhist interpretations, it is an icon of courage and strength. For ‘Children’s Day’ in Japan, Koi flags are flown, and different colours of each fish are meant to signify their part of a family – black is a father fish, red/orange a mother, pink for a daughter and blue/white for a son. The number of Koi on your body are also opined to be of significance; five, for example, is meant to present the idea of ‘eternal wealth.’ Borneo Rosette – Arguably either a representation of a dog’s eye, a dragon’s eye or of a flower, for the tribes of Borneo the rosette tattoo in all its variations resounds with symbolism. It can be an icon of protection; modern usage retrospectively relates it to the warrior values of its’ first users, valiance and courage. The internal spiral motif is meant to echo the ‘circle of life.’ Borneo rosettes are meant only ever to be gotten in symmetric pairs, in order that both sides of the body are equally protected. The location of these rosettes means the symbolism varies, too: rosettes on each hip are fertility charms, and on each wrist they are a charm of protection. Good Luck Symbolism There are, quite literally, tens of hundreds of concepts and designs extant in the world of tattoo culture that bear connotations of good luck, taken from every culture worldwide. They grow out of myth, legend, superstition and story telling: everyone is aware of the lucky charms of a scattering of cultures across the world: some are obvious, such as Horseshoes, Shamrocks, Rabbit’s feet and Dice. Others are more subtle; the Egyptian Ankh, for example, as well as the Western Traditional Swallow, Three Sevens and a pair of dice.