Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Sonic Sleeve Tattoo Designs
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
About Chinese Tattoo Symbols - 5 Reasons Why Chengyu Can Make a Killer Chinese Tattoo
Chengyu, or Chinese idiom, is a special type of idiom in Chinese language. They are usually composed of four characters, with very few exceptions (a handful of Chengyu are in three or more than four characters). Most Chengyu is derived, directly or with slight changes, from ancient Chinese literature. Therefore, Chengyu often appears to be "odd" in structure and grammar, compared with modern Chinese language. Yet, from a tattooing perspective, Chengyu are extremely fit for tattoos, probably the best source for Chinese tattoo symbols. Followings are the detailed explanations of why Chengyu turns out to be a "Natural Born Killer" for tattooing.
1. Chengyu is rich and deep in meaning
If there's only one thing worth mentioning about Chengyu, then it would be its tricky meaning. The thing is, you can never judge a Chengyu by its literal meaning. Since Chengyu is often derived from ancient literature, it actually serves as describing a contextual situation behind what's on the table, rather than conveying its literal meaning.
For example, Po Fu Chen Zhou is a Chengyu that literally means "break cooking pots and sink boats". Yet, what this "strange" idiom actually means is "to show one's determination to achieve goals at any cost". This Chengyu originated from a historical battle in which the general ordered his soldiers to break all the cooking pots and sink the boats so that there would be no retreat whatsoever. This extreme method worked and the army finally won the battle, which gave birth to Po Fu Chen Zhou as an inspiring idiom. In fact, you can see this as the Chinese version of "Go For It".
Wouldn't it be nice if you can have a meaningful Chinese phrase as a tattoo? You can always find the answer from Chengyu.
2. Chengyu is cultural-abundant
As a special type of phrase, Chengyu has a lot to do with Chinese culture. From its wording to its connotation, Chengyu can even be regarded as a spokesman of Chinese culture to some extent. This richness in culture surely give Chengyu a huge advantage for tattooing, in that people often want their Chinese tattoo to be genuine "Chinese". With Chengyu, you can easily do that.
3. Chengyu is more than large in numbers
If you were concerned about whether there are enough Chengyu for you to select from in order to be both unique and smart, you can be rest assured. Chengyu is not only large in numbers, it's actually Huge in numbers. There are at least 3,000 Chengyu in common usage among modern Chinese language, while there are around 10,000 legitimate Chengyu altogether, with thousands of varieties. The thing is, you can always find a nice Chengyu for tattooing that nobody has ever inked before.
4. The four-character-style gives Chengyu a tattoo-friendly look
As we have discussed before, Chengyu always appears to be in four characters, which is a linguistic custom to express comfortably in Chinese. Somehow, this four-character-style is quite favorable for tattooing. While a single-character tattoo looks concise and smart to some extent, it's not easy to instantly stand out of the crowd with its fairly small size. With a four-character Chengyu you can easily do this. Besides, it's plainly impossible for one character to convey as much as meaningfulness and uniqueness as a four-character Chengyu.
5. Chengyu is smart for tattooing
It finally boils down to this: Chengyu is smart for tattooing. There are countless Chengyu out there with bright, positive, or inspiring meanings that would make an amazing Chinese tattoo. The choices are just unlimited. With its special way of expressing, odd grammar, richness in culture and four-character-style, Chengyu is totally fit for tattooing, in a smart way.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
6 Ways to Personalize Your Chinese Symbol Tattoos
Ink color - Often, Chinese symbol tattoos are done in pitch-black ink. This is the traditional style. Dark ink (e.g. navy blue, brown, grey) and subdued colors are classic, exquisite and impressive. On the other hand, why not spice it up with other colors. If you want a funky modern look, try lighter ink. If you are daring enough, go with bright colors (e.g. sky blue, pink). There is no rule on what is the best color. Choose something to that is compatible with your personality.
Number of words - The number of Chinese symbols determines how much space is needed. If your tattoo designs consist of several characters (5 or more), more space is required to accommodate the text. In contrast, if there are just a few characters (1-3), a small space will do. Personally speaking, I know that tattoos with several symbols look enchanting. They tend to convey deep meanings or truth. Some people like that very much because they resemble a mysterious script. Think of an ancient Chinese scroll. So, if you want mystery and deep meanings, go with several symbols.
Word size - Think about how big your Chinese characters should be. Large size symbols give the impression of boldness and confidence. In addition, they allow for details. You can see the writing strokes including the turns or dots easily. Small size symbols render discreteness and modesty. Of course, details will be reduced. Nevertheless, do not underestimate the power of smaller writing. They look cool and sexy, attracting the eyes of many tattoo lovers.
Tattoo placement - The nagging question for ink enthusiasts is where to place their Chinese symbols. The most common spots include the back, arm, chest and leg. However, I urge you to consider the issue of aging. As we age, our tattoos age too. Certain body parts are especially prone to developing wrinkles. Because of that, you should place your Chinese words in an area of your body where they can hold their grace for a long time. Hence, you will look as graceful and youthful as your writing tattoo.
Text alignment - Your Chinese symbols tattoo is like a text. To add variety to your ink, think about how the text should flow. In other words, you can adjust the text alignment to achieve a desired look. The conventional way is to flow your Chinese symbols vertically, from top to bottom (like Beckham did with his calligraphy tattoo). The other way is horizontal alignment. In this case, you have two choices. The writing can go from left to right, or right to left. You decide the text flow for your ink. My advice is to go with vertical alignment. This gives you a classic and distinctly Asian look.
Calligraphy styles - The best way to glam up your symbol tattoos is to use Chinese calligraphy. Calligraphy is aesthetic writing in handwritten styles. It is highly respected art in China. There are five writing styles (scripts) for tattoo designs. They include seal script, running script, cursive script, regular script, and running script. For instance, you can get your Chinese characters written in cursive style (like David Beckham did). The result is truly stunning. More people are turning to calligraphy style designs because they are timeless. They give a sophisticated and personalized look. You must see them. Calligraphy symbols are the perfect fusion of tradition and cosmopolitanism.
Your Tattoo, Your Expression
Here I have suggested six ways to personalize your Chinese words tattoos. Rather than following celebrity trends, focus on what you like and suits you. Follow your heart makes more sense than blindly jumping into the hottest style. This is important for permanent body decoration. You should spend time researching and planning for your Chinese ink. There are no rules on what is proper and what isn't. Tattoo is personal expressions, free and creative. Try to find something that compliments your uniqueness.
Chinese Symbols Experts and Tattoo Ideas
You should seek professionals for Chinese symbol designs. In addition, these professionals must be proficient in Chinese translation. Online resources like tattoo fonts merely give you pixel dots. In fact, fonts are meant for computer applications, not body art. Likewise, Chinese dictionary does not provide accurate translation. Talk to a Chinese symbol expert, not an automatic word generator. An expert gives you practical tattoo ideas. Word generator offers a string of terms with loose explanations, or meanings that lack clarity.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Celtic Cross Tattoo Designs
Feminine Tattoos Design With Mermaid Tattoo Designs On The Body
Star Tattoo Designs For Feminine Tattoos Design
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Choosing the Right Chinese Tattoo Lettering - How to Avoid Mistakes
The first consideration for most people when choosing a tattoo is the design's aesthetic appeal. Consequently, the elusive beauty of Chinese calligraphy and the deep spiritual symbolism of its characters render Chinese designs one of the most popular choices for tattoos today. However, the most common error that people make is overlooking the translation compatibility of words between two languages. Using free online or offline translation programs may formulate direct literary interpretation of the words you wish to use but fail to phrase them in their proper context. For instance Anne had the Chinese character "Freedom" tattooed on her arm. But the tattoo artist had it translated into "Free Love." She now bears a tattoo whose meaning is totally different from what she wanted. It's the classic example of a tattoo translation horror story.
Another potential pitfall is that Chinese symbols have individual meanings; their connotations rely on the milieu of present times. As a result, Chinese tattoos get outdated quickly. What's more, Chinese characters are meticulous to tattoo. Mistakes such as forgetting a tiny single brush stroke or tattooing lines backwards result in a pretty but senseless character etched on your skin.
To avoid the embarrassment of wearing a Chinese character tattoo incorrectly, you might want to do the following before having anything done to your skin:
- Choose concepts that are universal and easily understandable across cultural barriers. The most commonly-used Chinese tattoos represent ideas and qualities like love, peace or strength. If you are adamant to use phrases and other more complex words, check first if their meanings can be translated correctly into Chinese.
- Familiarize yourself with the various styles of Chinese calligraphy. There are many to choose from. The most popular is the grass style, which executes characters swiftly with strokes running together.
- Always ensure that your tattoo translation has been carried out by fully qualified translators, be it by actual persons or online programs. If the translation is literally correct, it is best to be on the safe side and still check its context with a friend or resource person who is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.
- Be careful in choosing your tattoo artist. Be sure that he or she understands what you exactly want and is capable of inking the character correctly. Many Chinese tattoos end up defaced, tattooed backwards, or missing strokes because of the artist's ignorance.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
I can't tell which is worse!
I can't tell which tattoo is worse! Is it this unicorn with a broken/ jello neck?
... or these little scratchy buddies? They are both so bad!
I can't tell which is worse!
I can't tell which tattoo is worse! Is it this unicorn with a broken/ jello neck?
... or these little scratchy buddies? They are both so bad!
Monday, December 7, 2009
Koi Fish Tattoos - Tattoo Design That Symbolize Strength and Perseverance
Koi fish tattoos have long been a favorite because of the symbolical meaning it carries. Its message varies depending on how it is inked on the body. If tattooed with running water, the koi is meant to symbolize courage and the ability to overcome life's challenges and difficulties. When the koi in the tattoo is executed swimming upstream, it can be used to mean that the person is still struggling with their problem, if downstream it denotes that the person has already overcome their difficulties in life. These symbolisms attached to koi fish are usually derived from the myths, legends and stories from ancient Japan. They all based upon the way it behaves, either in the pond or in the wild. China, on the other hand, have a very special interpretation of koi fish in general as for them, it is an emblem of worldly aspiration and advancement. It is based on the Legend in China that if a koi succeeded in climbing the falls at a point called Dragon Gate on the Yellow River it would be transformed into a dragon.
Koi Fish Tattoos are commonly inked in detailed and elaborate manner on large body areas to celebrate the colorful and vibrant colors of this creature. They can also be seen tattooed with backgrounds, such as water and bamboo and can be combined with other floral designs such as cherry blossom and lotus.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
About Koi Fish Tattoos
The Japanese made it a familiar name even though the fish first originated in China. The Japanese related the Koi to exceptional bravery and is why it is a famous fish today. The Japanese said that the Koi, if caught and placed on a cutting board could lie still and wait to be cut by a knife without so much as flinching. That if it could wait for obvious death is a feature much like the samurai warriors bravery to face swords.
Koi fish tattoos often have different meanings but the common meaning includes strength, bravery to face hardship against all odds. Regarding the Chinese "Dragon Gate" legend, Koi are seen as symbols of accomplishment and grand aspiration. Koi fish are often referred to as "living jewels" and often associated with good fortune and luck. If you've ever seen the image portraying five golden Koi this is said to mean "never-ending riches" and well being.
Many tattoo designers suggest to people who have put great importance on being a free thinker to that of the Koi ability to swim against the current as being "non-conformist".
There are others who believe that the meaning of the Koi tattoo design differ based on the placement, position of the fish and the colors, as well many other differences in design. Much of this depends upon the person who has it.
If contemplating a Koi tattoo it's best to go with the colors of natural combination such as: gold, yellow, red, orange, black or white.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Chinese Tattoos - How To Get The Perfect Design
Number 1: Get Your Chinese Character Tattoo Right The First Time
Chinese symbol tattoos are one of the designs that are most likely to go wrong. Mistranslations, poor designs and bad alignment can all render your new design meaningless.
Sure, you can get them removed, but at present it's a painful and costly process that isn't guaranteed to be 100% successful.
So take your time, get professional advice and make sure you get a good quality, authentic design that you're happy with before you go under the needle. Don't end up looking like the victim of a cruel practical joke.
Number 2: Don't Use Kanji Designs From Tattoo Studios
Many tattoo studios provide a variety of pre designed Kanji symbols that you can have tattooed onto your body. These are cheap and quick, but suffer from a number of major disadvantages.
First, many of them have been poorly translated, so you may end up with a design that means something different to what you expected. Second, many of these standard designs have been drawn incorrectly, which destroys their meaning.
So instead of going into your local tattoo studio and picking a design off the wall or from a folder, do your own research. Decide the words that you want to appear in your Chinese tattoo, get them professionally translated and then get a custom design created to your order.
Number 3: Get Advice From A Chinese Person
This is absolutely vital. Chinese writing is extremely complex and can often be used to give one word in several different meanings. So make sure you speak to a Chinese person who can verify that you have the right symbols to match your intended meaning. If possible, make sure that they have experience of Chinese symbol tattoos.
Number 4: Select Your Words Carefully
When you get a new tattoo, it's important to assume that it will be with you for the rest of your life. So before you decide to get a Chinese symbol tattoo think long term and try to select wide over-arching ideas that express who you are and what you stand for.
For example, timeless ideas such as freedom, love and hope are always good choices.
And whatever you do, avoid fashionable words as they have a nasty habit of falling out of fashion within a short space of time. The aim is to select a design that you'll be as happy with in twenty years time as you are today.
Number 5: Select Your Artist Carefully
A tattoo that solely consists of Chinese characters can look rather plain unless the writing is completed with a certain amount of style and flair.
Even worse, it's easy for non Chinese artists to unintentionally deface the delicate Chinese symbols. Chinese calligraphy is very precise. The strokes have to be a certain shape and be aligned properly, otherwise the meaning of the design can be lost.
So it's vital to select a tattoo artist who is experienced in producing Chinese calligraphy.
Finally, if you want your Chinese tattoo to have even more impact, consider adding a small picture to your Chinese symbols.
The Chinese dragon is popular with men, while the Chinese phoenix is a favorite with many women. Both of these mythical creatures represent power and luck and will make a wonderful addition to your perfect Chinese tattoo.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Chopper Tattoo Review
Monday, November 30, 2009
Chinese Letters Tattoos - Good Points to Consider
Today, more and more people are opting for Chinese letters tattoos. The beautiful designs being the most common reason for the choice, even though most of the people who get Chinese letters tattoos don't really know what their tattoo means.
The Chinese letters tattoos have a charm and mystique that is all their own. No word or letter written in English can ever be comparable to the beauty Chinese letters have. It is due to this unique nature of Chinese letters that has made it one of the most popular choices in tattoo art.
However, choosing the right Chinese letters tattoo is the tricky part. As the tattoo is going to stay with you all your life, it is imperative that you find the perfect one for yourself. If you want your name written in Chinese letters, you will have to find someone to help who has a complete knowledge of the Chinese language. Since there are no alphabets in Chinese, you can not simply put your word into a converter and get the right Chinese translation. Chinese language is unique in the sense that a single letter of the language can mean many words, and convey a complete meaning, for example love, peace, and power can be said using a single Chinese letter.
To avoid the dissatisfaction of getting a tattoo in a hurry and then later finding a design that you liked better and wished you have gotten instead of the one you went ahead with, take your time and research carefully, exploring all the options and designs before selecting the one that you will like forever. It is in most cases like finding the perfect wedding dress, but in this case you are going to wear a tattoo forever.
There are over a hundred thousand Chinese symbols, each with a significant meaning to it, though most of them have become redundant in the present times. The most common Chinese signs are the signs for love, strength, power, luck, water, horse, cat, harmony, dragon, fire, fate, wind, heart, snake, eternity, life, music, hero and so many more. There are Chinese symbols for all the twelve zodiac signs as well.
Whatever you choose to get inked on you, make sure that it goes with your personality, and will remain the same for years to come. Get Chinese letters tattoos that you can cherish all life long.
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