Kanji is one of the 3 oldest writing systems in Japan. It is however the most complex. Japanese Kanji symbols are actually taken from China, and like Chinese characters each symbol doesn’t actually represent a letter of the alphabet. Instead, each kanji symbol represents a word or a sound. In this respect they’re somewhat similar to hieroglyphics.

The symbols themselves are quite complex but very beautiful when properly drawn. This explains why so many people like kanji tattoos. Each kanji symbol is comprised of a series of lines that are drawn in a very artistic manner, similar to calligraphy. Each line or series of lines within the kanji symbol illustrate either an object or an action. Each overall symbol represents a word.

Japanese emperors and priests revered the kanji symbols because of their aesthetic beauty and the spiritual effect they imparted on both the wearer and the person viewing the symbol. Kanji lettering was a studied art that required very precise movements of the wrists, the fingers, the quantity of ink on the brush and the pressure placed on the brush while drawing the symbol. As you can imagine the art of drawing Japanese kanji symbols was (and still is) very time consuming and requires precision and patience.

The complexity of kanji characters is tied to their meanings. One single kanji character may actually represent up to 10 different meanings. The meanings themselves vary based on the viewpoint of the reader – that’s why the different meanings are referred to as “readings.” The translation of each reading varies depending on the placement of the symbol in a sentence, the context, or the intended meaning. Kanji readings are either placed into one of two categories: kunyomi (Japanese interpretation) or onyomi (Chinese interpretation). The classification depends on the origin of the symbol itself (from either Japan or China). See why this is so complex?

Tattoo artists today attempt to draw kanji characters so the individual elements look like actual brush strokes. Some tattoo artists, especially those in Japan, go so far as to apply the individual elements of kanji symbols in the traditional order practiced in ancient Japan by Zen priests.

The decision about which symbols to include in the tattoo is entirely personal of course. Some people choose a single character that represents a word while others get a series of symbols applied that collectively represent a belief or thought. Still others have different kanji characters applied in order to spell a personal name. They do this by using the phonetic sounds associated with each character to spell out words. This makes the kanji tattoo much more unique than simply getting a loved one’s name tattooed onto the body.

Below are some kanji symbols and kanji translations for review. As always, feel free to use them for tattoo purposes:

beauty	beauty, beautiful
beauty, splendor	“Beauty of Face”
health, strength	sturdy, strength
“Exerting Strength”	energy, military strength
leader	excel, excellence
“Speaking the Truth”	happiness, blessing, fortune
welfare, happiness	happiness, good fortune
happiness, luck	good luck, joy, congratulations
faith, truth, fidelity, trust	logic, reason, justice, truth
reality, truth	affection, love
romance, “In Love With”	admire, praise

Here are some kanji translations of common names. Both the modern and traditional (calligraphy) versions are shown:

Modern Translation	Traditional Translation
Anna	Anna
Bill	Bill
Carol	Carol
Dave	Dave
Eric	Eric

For more information see: The History of Japanese Tattoos