The Tamatori hime tattoos are very popular across many countries and through many culture,the meaning and reason for wearing them are often similar though.

The legend states she cut her self open in order to store the bead and therefore speed up her swim. She did reach the shore but subsequently died of her self inflicted injuries,falling to her own desperation and greed. The variations on the legend expand the story and say how hime was a pearl diver and was trying to retrieve the bead which had been dropped into the lake by the Chinese emperor,the bead being a gift for his Japanese equivalent.

Many will have the tattoo mainly or totally on the back as its the largest area that can be tattooed on. The tattoo often starts on the lower back and then can be spread over the back area. The dragon ,if included, can cover the whole of the tattoo or can be a main focus point.

It can also be a small and basic drawing or can be very detailed showing bone structure or flesh and scales. The detail depends on the wearers wishes and the abilities of the tattooist. Of course a basic design can be made more complicated if wished with more detail and more background added over a period of time.

As you can see from the above design the picture is fairly basic but still is clear and looks very powerful, also it covers the whole back, shoulder and almost down the arm as well. The background is also basic but effective, it includes smoke and flame and also indicates movement.

The Tamatori hime tattoos focus on many parts of the legend from the dive to the fight with the dragons to the scene with the gods watching over her.

The designs can include the water and the scenery as well as other animals as well as the dragons. The self sacrifice and bravery is important to the scene as well.

The wearer then has the chance to say much about themselves with these designs, taking aspects from the Tamatori hime tattoo theme and those of others beside. Taking aspects like wisdom and sacrifice from this legend and then blending it with other stories to say what the wearer wants to say about themselves.

As with all tattoos do research first on the actual designs and the tattooists to see if they are up to the job,especially if you want a highly detailed design done. A detailed drawing will look great when done well but equally will look awful if done badly.

Tags: Tattoos