About Chinese Tattoo Symbols - 5 Reasons Why Chengyu Can Make a Killer Chinese Tattoo

Chinese tattoo is becoming increasingly popular these days. While popular Chinese tattoo symbols such as the Chinese equivalent for "love", "strength", "brave" have become many's first choice when it comes to getting a Chinese tattoo, more people are starting to be more concerned about uniqueness and originality. Instead of settling over "popular" Chinese tattoo ideas, they want something more special that can truly shine of one's personality. For these people, Chengyu might very well be a lovely cure.

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.

6 Ways to Personalize Your Chinese Symbol Tattoos

In the last ten years, Chinese symbol tattoos have swept the world like a whirlwind. Many people show their fashion sense through Chinese writing. 35% of NBA players have some Chinese motifs inked to their skin. In showbiz, celebrities share a similar affection for Asian characters (words). Why are these exotic words so popular? The most apparent reason is their artistic appeal. Chinese text is like fine art. However, I notice that many Chinese tattoos look rather ordinary and bland. Let me share six tips on how to add style and glamour to your Chinese symbols tattoo.

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.

Japanese Calligraphy Tattoos

Japanese Calligraphy Tattoos

Japanese Tattoos

Japanese Tattoos

Japanese Fish Tattoos

Japanese Fish Tattoos

Free Japanese Tattoos

Free Japanese Tattoos

Traditional Japanese tattoos

Traditional Japanese tattoos

Japanese Characters Tattoos

Japanese Characters Tattoos

Japanese Fish Tattoos

Japanese Fish Tattoos

Japanese Flower Tattoos

Japanese Flower Tattoos

Japanese Kanji Tattoos

Japanese Kanji Tattoos

Japanese Koi Fish Tattoos

Japanese Koi Fish Tattoos

Japanese Cherry Blossom Tattoos

Japanese Cherry Blossom Tattoos

Japanese Love Tattoos

Japanese Love Tattoos

Japanese Phoenix Tattoos

Japanese Phoenix Tattoos

Japanese Snake Tattoos

Japanese Snake Tattoos

Japanese Sleeve Tattoos

Japanese Sleeve Tattoos

japanese dragon fish tattoo

japanese dragon fish tattoo

Japanese Mask Tattoos

Japanese Mask Tattoos

Japanese Tattoo Art

Japanese Tattoo Art

japanese sword tattoo

japanese sword tattoo

japanese back tattoos

japanese back tattoos

Japanese Dragon Tattoos

Japanese Dragon Tattoos

Japanese style neck tattoo

Japanese style neck tattoo

Japanese Tattoo Pictures

Japanese Tattoo Pictures

Japan Tattoos

Japan Tattoos

Sexy Girl With Japanese Tattoo

Sexy Girl With Japanese Tattoo

History of Japanese Tattoos

Japanese history goes back thousands and thousands of years. Early Japanese people were well known for their skills in artwork of jewelry, metal, and even weapons. They were warriors as well, regarded as fierce fighters by the Americans. Throughout Japan, there are many examples and evidence of artwork and Japanese Tattoos.

Over the years, modern Tattoos evolved and established symbols for themselves along the way. Throughout North America, people often wear these symbols to let others know that they are a Japanese descent. The symbols and knowledge have been passed down through the years, as there is little no written history. Tattooing however, keeps the tradition alive with the infamous Japanese lettering Tattoos and other popular designs.

Most tattoo designs come from Japan, where the evidence of history is very strong indeed. The Japanese College found in Japan, contains many manuscripts that document the heritage and symbols. The height of tattooing however, occurred during the era when stone and metal work was really popular.

Japanese lettering tattoos are some of the most popular and most common designs, featuring loops with no end that symbolize a never ending cycle of dying and rebirth. There are also animal tattoo designs as well, which are similar in design to the knot tattoos, although the cords in the design normally terminate in heads, tails, and feet. The lettering tattoos designs are normallynever ending, unless an individual adds an end to symbolize a spiral.

The meaning behind the lettering in Japanese tattoos defies any type of literal translation and is found at a much deeper level. The interlacing of the lettering expresses the repeated crossing of both physical and spiritual elements. The strands and their never ending path is a popular design for Japanese tattoos, representing life, faith, and love. For many years, Japanese have used these designs for emotional as well as heritage purposes.

Japanese Ribcage Tattoo

Japanese Ribcage Tattoo

japanese arm tattoos

japanese arm tattoos

japanese tattoo big koi

japanese tattoo big koi in back