Almost all Japanese masks are the faces of demons and other representatives of the Dark Side. One of the most popular images is Chania - demon mask, symbolizing both universal evil and wisdom (this is how this word is translated from Japanese).
Chania is a reliable protection against evil spirits. The image is easily recognizable because it has a number of canonical features. Chania in the form of a tattoo – strong amulet, erecting a reliable barrier between its owner and the evil demons surrounding him. If you imprint it on the body, then no one will dare to penetrate it (as well as into the soul).
History of appearance
As legend has it, Chania appeared thanks to a talented Japanese monk who created masks for ritual dances. This item depicts the face of a demon with horns and sharp teeth, which are ideally suited to a smile distorted in impotent anger. If you look at the mask from a certain angle, it looks like the demon is crying hysterically. Chania represents a woman (not being very feminine in appearance) who is jealous and angry. On the stage of traditional Japanese theater, this mask usually hides female characters who are obsessed with jealousy and turn into real monsters because of it. Samurai often used Hanya (symbol fallen angel) as an amulet that guarantees protection from the enemy. The oldest surviving mask today is over 450 years old.
Tattoo meaning
As noted above, Chania means an angry and jealous woman, obsessed with her base passion and eager to quickly satisfy the feeling of revenge. Due to the lack of reciprocity on the part of her loved one, the woman turned into a demon. Thus, Chania is nothing more than the breath of passion, destroying everything it touches. According to legend, a woman met her beloved man, but could not think of anything better than to burn him with her fiery breath. There is also another prototype of the demon Chania (less well known). This is a wise Tibetan guardian and guardian of the basic tenets of Buddhism.
Usually the meaning of a tattoo is interpreted differently and largely depends on the person who wished to decorate his body with such an unusual oriental amulet. It can symbolize revenge, protection, a storehouse of wisdom, cunning, internal demons, regret about what happened, raging passions and much more. Thanks to Chania, it becomes clear that only complete despair and deep disappointment can cause jealousy and anger. However, life's wisdom allows you to understand and forgive a lot, arousing compassion in your heart even for the basest manifestations of human passion.
Visualization of the image
Demon Chania (although he is a representative evil spirits in Japanese folklore) has always remained revered. He is a bright and memorable character. If you see it at least once, it is unlikely that this image will be erased from memory. The mask is decorated with large bull horns. The demon's mouth is stretched into a crooked smile. The demonic grin consists of many teeth, framed on the sides by protruding fangs. The eyes are slightly slanted, which creates the effect of a sidelong glance, thereby enlivening the aggressive and cold image. In general, the character is quite scary in appearance, but at the same time full of suffering. Depending on the angle, the set of his emotions differs. On the one hand, Chania is terrible in anger, and on the other hand, he is a living personification of torment and regret. To ensure that all these features are not lost when applying a tattoo, the talent of the artist is important.
Chania is a suffering soul who has taken her revenge, but has never found peace. The recognition of the image is also due to such a canonical element as the fiery breath of the demon. Fire symbolizes the power of destruction, intensified by unrequited passion. Sometimes the image of the above mask can be supplemented with another eye, personifying wisdom and insight that has come (albeit too late). Often the Chania mask is depicted in combination with a snake, a bell and sakura flowers, which are important components of Eastern mythology.
Colors and artist's choice
The mask of Chania is traditionally depicted using bright colors, the degree of saturation of which indicates the degree of passion and anger of the character. The color of greatest indignation and anger is bright red. If the colors are somewhat muted, then this symbolizes calmer feelings: love, the desire to possess the object of passion, the desire to hide a loved one from prying eyes. While a rich palette speaks of the demon's emotionality, less flashy colors personify his restraint, prudence, nobility, aristocracy and wisdom.
Nowadays, tattoos of the relevant theme are performed not only by Japanese artists, but also by their European colleagues. Japanese culture is filled with mystery, abundance different interpretations images, ethnic flavor, which attracts her Special attention. By choosing a Chania mask as a tattoo, a person acquires a talisman that is indivisible with his body, protects him from misfortunes, and drives away evil spirits.
It is important that the emotions of the Chania mask be embodied in the drawing by a talented and experienced master who specializes in oriental themes, understands them well, and has the appropriate practical skills. A qualified specialist will assist in choosing the most suitable sketch and will skillfully convey the whole gamut of emotions of such a controversial character in the Japanese epic.
Video: sketch of the Mask of Chania
Photos of tattoos from Bloody wave studio
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Chania mask: meaning of tattoo, photos of works, videos and sketches.
Japan is a country literally permeated with mysticism and filled with sacred knowledge. Every Japanese sacredly honors the traditions of their ancestors and during the holiday tries to appease the spirits of the lower and upper worlds. For this purpose, since ancient times, Japanese demon masks made of wood and painted in various rituals have been used. bright colors. These items have great importance not only in religious rites, but also in the culture and art of the country. This will be discussed in the article.
Japan: the history of masks
Japanese mythology is very rich in characters who sometimes have completely opposite character traits. The fact is that in Japan it has always been customary to get along with a lot of demons and unclean spirits. The wise inhabitants of the islands never fought with evil spirits; on the contrary, they appeased them and, if necessary, could always enlist the support of spirits.
Masks have always been sacred meaning for the Japanese, they were quite often used by samurai in battles. It was believed that the mask not only covered the face, but also, containing various spirits, helped the warrior to win, striking terror into the hearts of his enemies.
It is difficult to imagine the Noh theater without various masks. The tradition of performing theatrical performances arose around the seventh century. At this time, colorful theatrical shows took place near temples, and masks were made from clay and paper. They were extremely simple and served to hide the identity of the actor. It was only in the seventeenth century that Noh theater developed into something special, and masks turned into real art. They began to express various characteristic emotions and now served to more clearly characterize the characters in the performance. The masks were endowed with mystical powers, and they were allowed to be touched only at the place where the laces were attached. Now in every theater there is a kind of altar on which ancient masks are collected. It is believed that the souls of actors live in them.
demons: meaning
Colorful masks are used in rituals, theatrical performances and festivals. Most of them have a frightening appearance and are designed to scare away other evil spirits. For this purpose, they are placed on the facades of houses and in rooms. Keep in mind that Japanese demon masks, despite their terrifying appearance, are quite kind to people. The spirits living in them are able to help those in need and protect the disadvantaged. We can say that good people should not be afraid of demons, but greedy, selfish and hypocritical people will definitely receive punishment from higher spirits. It is worth noting that the variety that distinguishes Japanese demon masks allows them to be used in different situations. Let's look at the most popular of them.
Japanese demon mask: tengu
In tengu, these are spirits of the forest; sometimes they are compared in their characteristics to Russian goblin. Tengu are unsociable, love cleanliness and are cunning. These spirits cannot stand arrogance and can punish those who are arrogant. One of the demon's supernatural abilities is the ability to transform into a human. Most often he takes the form of a monk living high in the mountains. He helps good people and lives in the branches of twisted trees.
The Tengu mask looks like the face of a red-faced old man with a long nose and a fan of feathers. A small funny cap - a tokin - is often placed on the demon's head. Very often, the forest spirit mask is used as a talisman against evil, but you should never harm the forest, otherwise the tengu will turn its anger on the owners of the house.
Demons They
Japanese demon masks often depict oni. This evil spirit is very popular in the country and has several varieties. They are usually depicted on masks in the form of a terrible grimace, distorted by anger, with huge fangs. Demons can be red, black or gold in color. In mythology, They symbolize formidable spirits of enormous stature who appear everywhere with clubs made of spiked iron. Demons can regrow a severed body part and heal any wound. Quite often these spirits are associated with trolls or devils living in Japanese hell.
Initially, They were incorporeal and brought with them disasters, illnesses and troubles. Over time, the spirits acquired a humanoid appearance, but remained extremely ferocious and often indulged themselves in human flesh.
Banishing them to hell
Japanese demon masks They are especially often used on the holiday. It is held on the third of February and is widely celebrated in the country. In order to protect their home, the Japanese scatter soybeans everywhere, which They simply cannot stand. IN last years It has also become common to scatter peanuts, sometimes wrapped in gold foil.
There is always a theatrical procession on the streets of cities during the holiday. Men dress up in costumes. They always put on scary masks. It is considered very correct to decorate the house with a demon mask: thanks to such a talisman, evil will not enter the house, and all household members may not be afraid of ending up in hell in a dream.
Mask tattoos
In Japanese culture, it has been customary to get tattoos since ancient times. The inhabitants of the islands differed in this from the Europeans, who were amazed at the variety of patterns on the body, which were described by merchants and travelers who visited the Land of the Rising Sun.
Tattoos have always been used by the Japanese to one degree or another. Initially, they were applied to the body in order to attract good luck in fishing or hunting. By the 700s AD, body painting began to be divided into designs for the nobility and those used to mark criminals. This significantly reduced the popularity of tattooing, but then it again began to be used by almost all segments of society. Quite often, tattoos were applied by representatives of various professions, making a drawing distinctive sign the whole group.
IN Lately The Japanese mask has become very popular among young people. Absolutely different ones are chosen for the design, but for women, Chania is preferable. This mask symbolizes a female demon whose face is distorted by jealousy and passion. According to legend, Chania was once a beautiful girl in love with a young monk. Her lover rejected her, and the girl, in a fit of insane passion, turned into an evil demon, taking revenge on all men who offend the fair sex.
Tattoos with a kitsune mask are also popular among women. This demon is depicted as a fox and is destructive to men. Kitsune can turn into the most beautiful woman and bewitch a man, and he will do whatever she tells him. Quite often this ends in madness. But the cunning fox herself is unlikely to be grateful to anyone; she always gets what she wants and then disappears.
Is it possible to make a Japanese mask at home?
Many fans of the culture of the Land of the Rising Sun are interested in how to make a Japanese demon mask on their own. You can even find special master classes with detailed description the process of creating masks from papier-mâché, but we would not advise you to be content with such artisanal methods. Real Japanese demon masks are real works of art; craftsmen spend several months making one product. Until now, almost all ritual and theatrical objects in the Land of the Rising Sun are made by hand, so it is best to order a mask from Japan. This is the only way to get a truly beautiful collector's item.
The world of spirits in Japan is very close to everyday life, because in every house there is at least a pair of masks that protect the house and its inhabitants.
Almost every person nowadays knows what a tattoo is. This is art body painting came to us many centuries ago. In ancient times, tattoos were given only to those who belonged to a special group of people, caste, religion or as a mark. You could tell by the tattoo what kind of person was standing in front of you. It was something like a passport. Today, tattoos are increasingly done for the sake of beauty. There are a lot of stories for them. It has also become popular to apply the image of a mask to your body.
The meaning of a mask tattoo
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Every person contains many essences. We have different characters, moods, we show all our emotions differently. Often you have to keep them to yourself, hide them. It's like we're covering ourselves with a mask outside world. For those people who lead a secretive lifestyle, are closed in on themselves, or simply show only one side of their soul, a tattoo in the form of a mask is suitable.
She can not only talk about such qualities as duplicity, inconstancy, lies and the like. The mask can protect a particularly sensitive person from negative impact those around you.
Most often, life circumstances develop in such a way that we have to play several roles a day. And this does not mean that we are all hypocrites and wear masks. Many people simply want to protect other people, especially family and friends, from their experiences, internal conflicts, negative emotions. Putting on such a “mask”, a person remains calm and does not hurt others' feelings.
The meaning of a tattoo in the form of a mask can be worn different interpretation. It depends on the colors, sketch, additions, symbols and much more, which is located next to the mask or affects its image. It should be noted that there are hundreds, if not thousands, of different images of masks in different styles. Therefore, with a little understanding, you can find a sketch to your liking.
Symbolism in various cultures of the world
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Polynesia
In every culture, especially ancient ones, the mask plays an important role. But in Polynesian it is a very strong symbol. In ancient times in Polynesia, all masks were called . The eyes of the masks were positioned in such a way that they seemed to look in all directions. Thus, they could protect against danger from any direction.
Tics were considered masks of real brave warriors. Only the most courageous, valiant and worthy could apply such images to their bodies. According to an ancient legend, a person who has such a tattoo will be protected not only from intrigues evil enemies, but will also scare away spirits who want to cause harm.
Africa
It is very difficult to imagine any ancient African ritual without a mask. They were used very often. Masks for rituals were made from wood and were different shapes, symbolize various spirits and deities. The type of mask depended on the specific ritual it was used for.
IN Ancient Egypt every human burial was accompanied by a mask. Special priests performed the ritual and put a mask on the face of the deceased. It symbolized a talisman against evil spirits that the deceased could meet in the next world.
America
All shamans in America always wore masks during rituals. Each of them personified one or another deity. Thus, the spirit transferred its power to the shaman and helped to carry out ritual actions.
Archaeologists even managed to find masks made of pure gold in ancient burials Incas. For these tribes they symbolized the sun.
Japan
One of the most common masks in Japanese tattoo style is. This is a mask that depicts the face of a demon. If you believe the myth, then this demon is a girl who took the side of evil. This happened because of unrequited love for the monk. Enraged, the girl turned into an angry demon and with her fiery breath, like a dragon, incinerated everything around her, including her loved one.
In the Land of the Rising Sun are not afraid of images of demons and evil spirits. On the contrary, they are revered and worshiped, despite the fact that they carry destructive energy. The Japanese use tattoos and images from evil spirits in order to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Greece
Surely, if you imagine a tattoo in the form of a mask, the first thing that comes to mind is the classic one. image of theater masks. But their meaning must be sought precisely in ancient Greek literature.
In those days, actors wore masks during stage performances. They were either tragic or comic. Such masks indicated the type of character and his role in the production. Also, similar masks could be used in rituals, personifying evil and good demons.
Today, these two masks, with a tragic and comic face, have become a symbol of modern theater and art in general.
Modern Art
The art of tattooing is influenced not only by ancient culture and antiquity. Contemporary art, its products, trends and fashion give their “shade”. Often, this influence can be stronger, since many people, especially young people, want to be like their modern ideals and maintain style.
One striking example is the film "V for Vendetta". The main character Guy Fawkes, there was a mask that became the symbol of this tape. After it was released, fans loved it so much that almost every second person got it tattooed on their bodies.
The story of the film takes viewers back to the seventeenth century. According to history, the Englishman Guy Fawkes who participated in the great "Gunpowder Plot", was supposed to light the fuse of a bomb that was planted under the parliament building. But the police managed to intercept him, arrested him and, through torture, forced him to surrender his accomplices in the intended crime. In those times Guy Fawkes was considered a coward and a scoundrel, but the director of the film portrayed him as a hero who was not afraid to challenge society and authority, despite the fact that he failed.
Image Guy Fawkes managed to influence even the English language. Thanks to this man the word appeared "guy". At first it meant an effigy that, according to a long tradition, the British burned on the night of the fifth of November. On this very day Guy Fawkes and tried to undermine parliament.
A little later, every scarecrow began to be called this word, and then a person suffering from bad taste. These days in English language word "guy" it simply denotes a young man and does not carry any negative connotations.
Mask in modern tattoos
A mask in tattoos carries equal meaning for both men and women. Only Polynesian tics differ from generally accepted norms, since they were applied to themselves exclusively by men. The meaning of a mask as a symbol can be anything. This is affected by a large number of factors: history of origin, characteristics of culture and religion. However, all such tattoos have something in common.
Stealth
Many people who want to hide something personal from prying eyes get a tattoo in the form of a mask. These could be feelings, events from the past, emotions. They do this either because they do not want to let strangers into their souls, or because they do not want to hurt others and loved ones.
Protection
In this case, the mask serves as a talisman. It protects its owner from bad influence, the evil eye or any other unpleasant events and factors. Also, it is able to protect from people whose intentions are questionable.
Duality of nature
A mask on a human body can mean that its owner is duplicitous. You need to communicate with such a person carefully, since at the most unexpected moment his negative qualities character.
Adaptability
Like a chameleon, man easily adapts to his environment. He will always be able to find a profitable role or place for himself. Instantly adapts to life, no matter what conditions he finds himself in.
This mask is almost never applied to the body separately. Most often it is the center of the composition. Around the mask are Polynesian designs and ornaments. Also, these masks go well with other traditional symbols: turtle, lizard, spirals. All of them are excellent amulets and are used as protective amulets.
Chania mask
Most often, a similar mask is applied to their body by people who suffer from unrequited love or are experiencing other similar heartache. If we talk about classical performances in Japanese-style theater, then when the masked actor looks at the audience in the audience, the expression on the demon’s face is evil, aggressive, cruel and terrifying. But if the actor tilts his head a little, the expression will change. The face will take on sad notes, the features will become melancholy and tearful. This happens because skilled craftsmen make masks for the theater in a special way.
Modern young Japanese, apparently under the influence of Western European tradition, often prefer tattoos of a somewhat negative and provocative nature. But if in the subcultures of Western youth there is an element of Satanism and necromancy in its Christian meaning, then the Japanese adhere to their traditional beliefs in demonic beings, which are widely represented in Buddhism, Shinto and folk tales and beliefs.
They- in Japanese mythology, this is the name for evil humanoid monsters similar to Christian devils and demons. They have red, blue, green or black skin, are crowned with horns, and huge fangs protrude from their mouths. They feed on human flesh and are difficult to kill in battle because severed body parts grow back into place.
There is a belief that bad person can turn into a demon - They. Especially often in fairy tales, jealous and grumpy wives with horns growing on their heads turn into such monsters.
In Japan, on February 3, a ceremony to exorcise demons is held - They to Jigoku (to Hell). On the Setsubun holiday, the Japanese throw soybeans over the threshold of their houses (it is believed that They hate soy) and shout: “ They leaving! Blessings are coming! They symbolize illnesses and failures that should be gotten rid of. Actors wearing scary demon masks take part in the festive festivities - They. In theatrical productions They are defeated by heroes, or, like servants of the god of death, drag sinners to hell.
If we talk about tattoos, then here They have a protective function. In some legends, these demons serve as protectors of worthy people and punish bad ones. So, for example, if we talk about the yakuza, such tattoos are made by those who kill people the yakuza dislikes, or are engaged in collecting debts.
Radzin - god of thunder
There are many types of demons in Japanese folklore, and sometimes it is quite difficult to tell which demon a particular tattoo represents. However, some are identifiable.
Radzin- god of thunder. Very often mentioned with the wind god Fujin. Depicted as a ferocious horned demon, often tearing a scroll with its teeth. However, he is a positive deity, the protector of the Buddhist faith.
Ondeko-man
Ondeko-man. He is also called Oni-daiko ("demon dancing to the drum"). He is depicted dancing a demonic dance while accompanying himself on drums. You can recognize this demon by its round mons (signs) with image of three commas symbolizing “heaven – earth – man” or maintaining the equality of yin and yang. Dancers-drummers in costumes and masks depicting this demon often perform at various Japanese festivals. The ritual dance is intended to promote soil fertility, harvests and prosperity. There appears to be a connection between this demon and Radzin, and Ondeko-men may be one of the forms of this thunder deity.
Meaning of the Chania Mask tattoo
Hanya or Hannya is an ugly horned and fanged demon in Japanese folklore, into which a vengeful and jealous woman has turned. This character is used in some Japanese Noh plays. The Hanya mask is also used in festivals and Shinto rituals, symbolizing vice. Very often depicted on tattoos, but clearly not in a negative way. There is a version that the image of this demon was borrowed from Tibetan culture, where many Japanese origins come from. mythological creatures. In Tibet, it was the guardian of Buddhism, and “hannya” means the same thing as “prana” - “wisdom”. Often, cherry blossoms, a snake and a bell are depicted along with the Chanya mask.
Japanese demon Yaksha
In these tattoos, Yakshas are shown as bloodthirsty spirits carrying severed heads. Yaksha - this demon was borrowed by the Japanese from Hindu mythology. There they were beautiful semi-divine creatures, born from the feet of Brahma along with demons - rickshasas, but, unlike the first, they were servants of the gods. However, they were often dangerous for people. Yakshini, the female variety of Yaksha, drank the blood of children and ate human flesh. Among the Japanese, the yaksha became a vampire - a cannibal into whom people who deserve the punishment of the gods turn. On the other hand, a yaksha can be a harmless “goblin” - “Master of the Forest.”
Rokurokubi
Rokurokubi Demon Tattoo Japanese fox demons - Kitsune
Kitsune. The image of a fox-werewolf penetrated into Japanese folklore from China, where it developed in ancient times. In China, these creatures are called huli-jing, and in Korea - kumiho. In Japanese folklore, a kitsune is a type of yokai (demonic creature). Kitsune are intelligent and knowledgeable, and can live for a very long time. This werewolf's tail is necessary attribute to create illusions, and the older and stronger the fox, the more tails it has. Their number can reach up to nine.
According to legends, these animals have magical abilities and are able to transform into a person - they usually take the form of seductive beauties, but can take the form of old people. They most often use these abilities to deceive people, and like vampires, they feed on human vitality and spiritual force. They are also capable of inhabiting other people's bodies and creating illusions that are indistinguishable from reality. However, kitsune often commit good deeds, and, unlike the Chinese and Korean traditions, they are not evil demons - cannibals.
In the Shinto religion, kitsune are messengers of the god of rice fields and entrepreneurship, Inari, who himself is depicted as a fox. When Shinto mythology was mixed with Buddhism, the fox received, in accordance with Chinese ideas, demonic functions, but in general, in the Buddhist tradition, the werewolf fox has a positive function, as an attribute of the god Dakini.
In tattoos it can mean dexterity, mental acuity, the ability to find a way out in seemingly hopeless situations. In addition, a tattoo makes it possible to charm people and inspire love, just like the kitsune does in fairy tales.
In the photograph, the kitsune is shown in the guise of an evil demon - a cannibal, which is more consistent with the Korean tradition. However, here he acts as a Buddhist guardian, and holds in his teeth a rosary with the skulls of apostates, so the tattoo should not be considered as an indication of the aggressiveness of its owner - it is more an indication of the strength of religious beliefs and a request to protect from troubles and enemies .
Bakeneko - “monster cat”
Japanese tattoo Bakeneko
Bakeneko (Japanese: “monster cat”).
In addition to kitsune (fox-werewolves) and tanuki (werewolves in the form of raccoon dogs), in Japanese folklore there is another type of werewolf - cats that can turn into people. An ordinary cat needed to reach a certain age or size to turn into a werewolf. The strongest bekeneko have a forked tail and are called nekomata. Like other representatives of evil spirits, there is an ambivalent attitude towards werewolf cats in Japan. On the one hand, they could help people with their magic, as stated in many Japanese fairy tales and legends, but on the other hand, there are examples when this image was associated with revenge and death. According to Japanese folk beliefs, a cat can kill its owner in order to take his appearance, or move into the body of a deceased person (the Japanese still try to prevent cats from being near the dead). They can revive the dead by jumping over them, or raise skeletons and manipulate them like puppets. Cats can take revenge on their offenders. The Kabuki theater has a number of plays that feature werewolves - cats that have turned into people, usually women. They either take revenge on those who offended them, or the werewolves are possessed by the souls of the wives killed by their husbands. But in general, the attitude towards cats in Japan is positive, and they like to be depicted in scenes where they copy the behavior of people, and even in the form of monks.
Tengu. Karasu - tengu and Yamabushi - tengu.
Karasu tengu are similar to raven birds. These are evil creatures that kidnap children and adults, set fires in houses, and kill those who deliberately harm the forest. In the traditional Japanese religion of Shinto, there are many deities - kami, among which six are awarded the title "Okami" ("Great Kami"). Five of them are Izanagi, Izanami, Mitikaeshi, Sashikuni and the sun goddess Amaterasu - “amatsukami” ( heavenly kami), and Sarutahiko is the guardian of roads, the spirit of crossroads and the remover of obstacles - “kunitsukami” (earthly deity). He is depicted as an old man with a red face and a very long nose. It is believed that the image of Sarutahiko-no-Okami served as a prototype for demonic creatures - tengu (literally “Heavenly Dog” in Japanese).
The Japanese believed in the existence of two varieties of tengu: karasu-tengu (crow tengu) and yamabushi-tengu.
Yamabushi - tengu - is a creature more similar to a person. The Yamabushi Tengu is a creature more like a human. He has a red face and a very long nose, and sometimes wears wings on his back. He was nicknamed yamabushi (the so-called monks - hermits who chose mountains for their solitude) because this tengu loves to turn into such monks. Like goblins, they can make fun of a person who meets them, and can even kill someone who harms the forest. However, in fairy tales they often help good people.
Tengu masks Tengu are depicted wearing strange little hats called “tokin” and having a fan of feathers or leaves with which they can call strong wind.
Tengu masks are very popular in Japan, used in various festivals and in Kabuki theater performances.
In tattoos, Japanese theatrical masks are additional elements indicating the character of a person, or serve as a replacement for the full image of the creature whose patronage is expected to be received.
Kama-itachi
Japanese Kama Itachi Tattoo
Kama-itachi refers to the demonic yokai of Japanese folklore. In ancient times, the Japanese had a belief about malicious whirlwinds - kamaetachi (“attack”). Toriyama Sekien, an artist who studied Japanese demonology, who left images and descriptions of demons - youkai, gave this supernatural phenomenon the appearance of three weasels with claws - razors, which, whirling in a whirlwind, cut the skin on the legs of people they met along the way. He changed the original sound of the word to “kama-itachi” (“sickle of weasel”) - creating a pun that is very typical of him. These creatures are depicted as a spinning weasel whose legs end in sickle-shaped blades.
Nure-onna – “Water Woman”
Japanese Nure-onna Tattoo
Nure-onna (“Water or Wet Woman”) is one of the most ancient demons - youkai of Japanese folklore. This is a demon with the head of a woman (often very beautiful) and the body of a giant snake, who lives either near the river or in the river itself. In some legends, she has hands with sharp claws. She has beautiful long hair, which she likes to wash in the river, round shiny eyes like a snake, sharp fangs and long, strong tongue- a sting with which she sucks blood or life energy from unwary travelers. In order to prevent the intended victim from leaving, the nure-onna resorts to cunning. She invites the person she meets to hold her child while she washes her hair, but as soon as he takes it in his hands, the child sticks to them and bends the person to the ground with its enormous weight. It is difficult to say what tattoos depicting this demon symbolize; perhaps disappointment in love and comparison of women with this insidious creature.
Kappa
Tattoo design and Kappa tattoo If tengu can be considered a kind of goblin, then the Japanese variety of merman is called “kappa” (“river child”). It is a cross between a frog and a turtle, and has a beak instead of a nose. On the top of the kappa's head there is a saucer filled with water, which gives it enormous strength. However, she does not harm humans, although she loves pranks. Sometimes she even helps good heroes in fairy tales and legends.
Jankuy – “Demon Slayer”
Ancient engraving and tattoo with the demon slayer - Dzhankuy Dzhankuy or Soki - “Demon Slayer”. The ghost, according to legend, is the protector of the Chinese Emperor Huan-song. Dzhankuy committed suicide, and therefore he himself became the demon Gui. However, he vowed to help people in the fight against their evil brothers. In Japan, this protective spirit has become very popular, as it fights They. This spirit is always depicted in Chinese clothing and with a sword with which he strikes evil forces.
Yuki-onna – snow woman
Japanese Yuki-onna Tattoo
Yuki-onna (Japanese: “snow woman”). This is what Japanese folklore calls one of the varieties of yokai - that is, spirits. She can also be called Yuki-musume (“ snow girl"), Yukijoro ("snow harlot"), Yuki-omba ("snow grandmother or nanny") and many other names. Yuki-onna is a very popular figure in Japanese literature, manga and anime.
Yuki-onna appears on snowy nights in the form of a tall, beautiful woman with long black hair and blue lips. Her inhumanly pale or even icy-transparent skin makes her part of the snowy landscape. She sometimes wears a white kimono, but in other legends she is described as naked. Despite her amazing beauty and grace, her eyes can inspire horror. It seems to float above the snow, leaving no traces behind it, and at any moment it can turn into a cloud of fog or crumble into snowflakes. Some legends say that the souls of those who are frozen in the snow turn into Yuki-onna. For a long time This spirit was considered an undoubted evil, killing unwary travelers, but over time, Yuki-onna began to be given more humane features. In some works, she even becomes the wife of the person she loves, and only the accidental discovery of her essence forces Yuki-onno to leave her beloved and her children forever, going to Afterworld.
However, there are other ideas about this ghost. He may look like an ugly old woman - a witch who freezes travelers, or drinks their blood or vitality.
A sketch of a tattoo depicting Yuki-onna and a tattoo where Yuki-onna is shown as an ugly old woman - a witch. Hatsuhana - Pious Ghost
Japanese ghost tattoo Hatsuhana
Hatsuhana or Hatsuna is a godly ghost. A character from the Kabuki theater play “The Appearance of a Miracle in the Hakone Mountains, or the Revenge of the Legless One” (“Hakone Reigen Izari no Adauchi”). A scene from the play is shown where the spirit of the villainously murdered woman Hatsuhana, being under the icy streams of a waterfall, prays to Buddha Amidu so that he will heal her weak husband, and he can take revenge on her killer. Praying under a waterfall was an ancient Japanese custom that did not change even after the adoption of Buddhism. It was believed that such a prayer has special power - a person proves his determination, self-sacrifice and great faith, and without fear enters the chilling, lashing jets of the waterfall. The image of Hatsuhana is for those who want happiness and prosperity for their loved ones and relatives, and are ready to make any sacrifice for this.
Engraving by Utagawa Kuniyoshi and sketch of Hatsuhana ghost tattoo 4.5 / 5 ( 2 votes)