Tribal
Traditional Methods
The tribes themselves often observed strict rites and ceremonies surrounding the practice of tattooing. These range from periods of abstinence from food, water, or sexual behaviour, to rites of passage such as dangerous journeys to prove worthiness of a tattoo.
Whilst modern day tribal is tattooed using a machine, the tribes often hand-tapped the designs into the skin, or cut the skin and rubbed the ink in.
Inks were made of a variety of natural substances local to the tribe ranging from animal bile to ash, and the tattooists themselves were often spiritual leaders of the tribe.
- http://hp702103.hubpages.com/hub/Tribal-Tattoo-History
Traditional / Old School
During the 1940s the social perception of tattoos began to change. This happened due to the large numbers of soldiers in WWII who came home with tattoos. This time period also produced a specific kind of tattooing that came to be known as the “traditional” or “old school.” Traditional/old school tattooing featured heavy, bold, black outlines of the images that are often filled with blue or red ink. One of the foremost “old school” tattoo artist of this time was Sailor Jerry.
- http://digboston.com/boston-news-opinions/2012/02/ink-well-americas-tattoo-history/
Japanese / Asian
Japan has a very old tattoo culture, probably since Jomon period (14,000BC-300BC) and the Japanese tattoo that we now know was established in the middle of Edo period. At that time, many people came to big cities such as Edo (now Tokyo) and Osaka and with the population growth, the number of crime naturally increased. Irezumi was introduced as a punishment because of its character that it´s not easy to get rid of. From there, it spread among prostitutes, gamblers, construction workers and couriers as a fashion.
The criminals were tattooed on their forehead so that people could see they committed a crime. Also each region had it´s own symbol and by the Irezumi people could tell where those guys committed the crime.
- http://www.iromegane.com/japan/culture/history-of-japanese-tattoo/
Koi Tattoos: determination, strength, courage, desire for success, water
Phoenix Tattoos: rebirth, triumph, fire
Tiger Tattoos: strength, courage, protector against bad luck, evil spirits, disease, wind
Lion or Fu-Dog Tattoos: protective, strong, courageous, good luck, heroism
Japanese Snake Tattoo: protection, wisdom, good luck, strength, change
Japanese Skull Tattoos: life, death, change, reverence for dead / ancestors
Oni/ Oni Mask/ Demon Mask Tattoo: good and evil, protectors, tricksters, demons
Water/ Wave Tattoos: movement, strength, fluidity, life
- http://richmondtattooshops.com/japanese-tattoos-history-meaning/#sthash.26yErsRb.dpbs
Geometric
A new trend has emerged among tattoo enthusiasts, and that is sacred geometry. Such tattoos are certainly beautiful, but is there a deeper meaning to this practice?
Sacred geometry refers to patterns and designs that are found throughout nature. These patterns reveal each form's vibrational resonances and symbolize the metaphysical idea of the part being related to the whole; you can't have one without the other. This concept of oneness and interconnectedness reminds us of our relationship to the ‘whole’, or the natural world and cosmos that surround us.
Some folks choose sacred geometry tattoos for the sheer beauty, but others are drawn to the philosophy that surrounds sacred geometry. In particular, the platonic solids have gained popularity as symbolic tattoos. Each of these three-dimensional shapes features an equiangular, equilateral polygon on each side. The cube, for instance, is made of six connected squares.
The Ancient Greeks believed that five platonic solids, in particular, symbolized the elements of life:
The cube or hexahedron, made of six squares, represents earth.
The octahedron, built from eight triangles, refers to air.
The dodecahedron, composed of 12 pentagons, symbolizes spirit or ether.
The icosahedron, made of 20 triangles, refers to water.
- http://www.tattoo.com/blog/sacred-geometry-tattoo-decoding-trend
