Text Technology: Tattoos
Case Study: japanese full body tattoos (Horimono)
Tattooing has been practiced in Japan—for beautification, magic, and to mark criminals—since around the 5th century B.C. Repressive laws gave rise to the exquisite Japanese designs known today. Restricted from wearing the ornate kimonos that adorned royalty and the elite, outraged merchants and the lower classes rebelled by wearing tattooed body suits. Covering their torsos with illustrations that began at the neck and extended to the elbow and above the knee, wearers hid the intricate designs beneath their clothing. Viewing the practice as subversive, the government outlawed tattoos in 1870 as it entered a new era of international relationships. As a result, tattooists went underground, where the art flourished as an expression of the wearer's inner longings and impulses.
The yakuza, the Japanese gangster class, embraced the body suits—even more so because they were illegal. Their elaborate designs usually represented an unresolved conflict and also included symbols of character traits the wearer wanted to emulate. A carp represented strength and perseverance. A lion stood for courage. Such tattoos required long periods of pain from the artist's bundles of needles, endured by wearers as a show of allegiance to their beliefs. Today, Japanese tattoo wearers are devoted to the most colorful, complete, and exotic expression of the art.
The yakuza, the Japanese gangster class, embraced the body suits—even more so because they were illegal. Their elaborate designs usually represented an unresolved conflict and also included symbols of character traits the wearer wanted to emulate. A carp represented strength and perseverance. A lion stood for courage. Such tattoos required long periods of pain from the artist's bundles of needles, endured by wearers as a show of allegiance to their beliefs. Today, Japanese tattoo wearers are devoted to the most colorful, complete, and exotic expression of the art.
bibliography
- http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0412/online_extra.html
- http://codemaster.hubpages.com/hub/Art-Skin-as-my-Canvas
- http://ryanlobo.blogspot.com/2006/03/horimono-tattoo.html
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DCsBLg0V8E
Research Questions
1. How long has Tattoing been practiced in Japan? For what purpose(s)?
2. What led to the ornate Japanese designs we see today?
3. Most Japanese view Horimono as a symbol of what organization? Why?
4. How much does a common full body suit cost? How long does it take?
5. Why are the tattoos often not seen?
- Tattooing has been practiced in Japan—for beautification, magic, and to mark criminals—since around the 5th century B.C.
2. What led to the ornate Japanese designs we see today?
- Repressive laws gave rise to the exquisite Japanese designs known today. Restricted from wearing the ornate kimonos that adorned royalty and the elite, outraged merchants and the lower classes rebelled by wearing tattooed body suits. Covering their torsos with illustrations that began at the neck and extended to the elbow and above the knee.
3. Most Japanese view Horimono as a symbol of what organization? Why?
- Traditional Japanese tattoos (horimono) are associated with the yakuza. Today, tattoos are still seen as a sign of criminality in Japan, particularly by those of the older generation and in the work place. Horimono tattoo, the identifying mark of anyone belonging to the yakuza or of anyone who wants you to believe the same. A practice once banned by the Japanese government. The yakuza, the Japanese gangster class, embraced the body suits—even more so because they were illegal. Their elaborate designs usually represented an unresolved conflict and also included symbols of character traits the wearer wanted to emulate. uch tattoos required long periods of pain from the artist's bundles of needles, endured by wearers as a show of allegiance to their beliefs.
4. How much does a common full body suit cost? How long does it take?
- A common traditional body suit which covers the arms, back, upper legs and chest, while leaving an un-tattooed space down the center can take 2 to 10 years of weekly visits to complete and cost in excess of US$30,000.
5. Why are the tattoos often not seen?
- Because they only are tattooed on places that will be covered up by clothing. To reveal your full body tattoo is an intentional act.