Around the world, there is perhaps hardly a culture like the Japanese Irezumi tattoo – both historical and literary, once loved, but ultimately rejected.
The millennial origin of Japanese tattoos
Although Asian countries are not the birthplace of tattoo art, the art of "painting on the skin" appeared in Japan quite early. Archaeological remains prove that the first tattoos appeared here around 10,000 BC. By the Yayoi period (Iron Age, 300 years BC), Japanese tattoos were not only for the purpose of decorating and beautifying the body anymore. It was used as a kind of marker, distinguishing slaves, prisoners or criminals. From being an ornament on the body, tattoos were turned into a form of punishment of the ancient Japanese.
Being caught up in the flow of history, it was not until the end of the 17th century, ie in the Edo period (1603 - 1867), that the art of tattooing in Japan really flourished. Few people know that viking hoodie tattooing in the kingdom of the rising sun was able to grow to such a high level during the Edo period, thanks to the art of woodblock printing (Ukiyo-e).
In 1827, woodblock prints artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi created colorful wooden paintings depicting the heroes of the famous Japanese novel of the time, Suikoden. These heroes are upright, brave, and everyone decorates their bodies with giant paintings of dragons, tigers, flowers, etc. Almost immediately, the people of Edo rushed to own a tattoo on their body, and then gradually spread to other provinces and cities, forming a cultural wave.
In Kyushu, coal workers tattooed dragons on their arms, implying that they will always be protected by the gods against many occupational risks. In Hokkaido or Edo, women carve small patterns on their hands, symbolizing charm and maturity.
From the low class to the upper class, everyone owns a tattoo on their body.
Gradually, it became a typical Japanese culture. It is said that when Westerners began to migrate to Asia, it was difficult to distinguish Asians who were similar in appearance. But thanks to the images of dragons, phoenixes or Oni (as they call it in Japan), people from other continents can easily identify the people of Phu Tang.
Of course, because Japanese tattoos – Irezumi are completely different from Western tattoos. Irezumi are large tattoos, many textures, colors and can cover parts of the body (back, arms, legs). Irezumi is more about creating a complete picture of the human body than small, minimalist details like Western tattoos. The main characters in Irezumi's body paintings can be mentioned as dragons (symbolizing strength), koi fish (strength), oni (goblins, symbolizing the ability to protect people) or waves, water (strong, rushing but also gentle and calm).
Besides, irezumi does not use machines but depends on the skills of the tattooist, along with special ink, nara ink. Large tattoos, manually tattooed, so many people have to spend up to 5 years to complete a sophisticated "picture" on their back.
"The roots are deep, the tree must grow tall." The saying implies that what has a solid, long-standing origin will grow strong.
The art of tattooing in Japan has such a long history, but its viking outfit development did not follow a straight trajectory after the Edo period.
When art is turned away
In the second half of the 19th century, the Japanese government began to ban all forms of tattoos. Irezumi gradually became defeated before other cultural waves poured into the land of Japan at that time. Trot people who own tattoos on their bodies, to avoid government scrutiny, have to find ways to hide tattoos behind clothes.
Things got worse when the Yakuza - a notorious gang in Japan used large tattoos to identify each other and show prestige to others. The gangsters carve tattoos on the body, unknowingly "engraving" bad stereotypes about this art into the minds of Japanese people.
Tattooed Yakuza. So tattooed people are criminals of the Yakuza.
Just like that, the Japanese feared and rejected the very art form that they had developed to its brilliance in the past.