GLOSSARY Aku - “evil, bad.” Punitive tattoos emblazoned this Chinese character onto the foreheads of criminals. Bodysuit – A full-body tattoo that covers the torso, legs and arms. In traditional Japanese tattooing, the bodysuit can take several specific patterns (i.e. see jinebeibori below). Dogu - Clay figures dating to the Jomon period (10,000 - 300 BCE). The decorative patterns engraved on the face and body suggest tattooing, though this theory is not conclusive. Ehon - Illustrated book. Floating world - Refers to the pleasure focused culture of Edo’s emergent middle class. Centered in the kabuki theater and the yoshiwara, or pleasure district, this culture flourished during the Edo period. Kumi - “Branch,” distinct factions of yakuza. Hari - Needle(s) used in traditional Japanese hand tattooing. Made up of a bamboo rod with a needle attached the end with thread. For outlines, a single row of needles is used, for shading multiple rows are used. In the 1980s, the traditional thread and bamboo hari were replaced with stainless steel rods and soldered needles due to fear of bloodborne disease. Hikeshi - “Firemen.” Likely due the immense danger and frequency of fires in Edo, firemen were raised to heroic status and served as a popular subject in kabuki plays and ukiyo-e prints. They were usually heavily tattooed with images of dragons, carp or other water symbols as protection from fire. Horimono - “Carved object.” Tattooists of the mid-18th century used this term, rather than irezumi, to distance their work from the brutal punitive tattoos of the time. Tattoo artists of this era referred to themselves as horishi. Some tebori masters today use this term. Inked skin – Skin bearing a tattoo. Irebokuro - “Engraved mole.” Precursors to the decorative tattoo, irebokuro were symbols of commitment between lovers. These marks began in the pleasure quarters of Osaka and Kyoto in the mid-17th century, but reached new levels in Edo’s pleasure district, the yoshiwara. Often shared between a courtesan and her lover, an irebokuro was a tiny dot on the hand or a lover’s name and the character for life tattooed along on the inner arm. Irezumi - “The insertion of ink.” Refers to traditional Japanese tattooing. This term held punitive connotations during the Edo period, but today it has largely shed this particular association. Irozumi - Tattoos that used white lead as tattooing pigment. They would normally be nearly invisible, but would appear when the skin became reddened from drinking or blushing. These playful tattoos became popular around the same time as irebokuro. Jinbeibori - Full body tattoo, designed such that it will be completely covered when one wears a jinbei, an open-front, summer kimono. Kakejiku - Traditional Japanese silk scroll. Kisshobori - “Pledge marks.” A precursor to the decorative tattoo. Often parts of sutras or prayers, these tattoos indicated a commitment to Buddhism or a promise to oneself. Today people get kisshobori for this second meaning (ex. For courage). Kumadori - Makeup used for colored lines on face, arms and legs of Kabuki actors. While mainly reserved for aragoto or “rough style” roles, kumadori was also used to paint “tattoos” on actors’ skin. Oni - These demonic, supernatural creatures take four forms: Earthly evil deities against a heavenly god, menacing creatures from classic legends, dangerous and frightening supernatural apparitions or evil taking the form of beautiful men or women. Oni-azami - Thistle Otokodate - Heavily tattooed “street knights,” considered themselves champions of the common people, but were largely just ruffians. Challenged corrupt samurai and fought for justice. An otokodate usually carried one sword, instead the traditional two of the samurai, wore a kimono and was often depicted with a flute. Shichibori - Traditional tattoo format. Chest panel with 2/3rd length arm pieces. Shunga – Erotic, often humorous, Japanese art that usually takes the form of woodblock prints. Skin – The canvas of the tattoo artist. Suikoden - Japanese adaptation of the 14th century Chinese classic, Shuihuzhuan (Stories of the Water Margin). In 1805, Takizawa Bakin presented his translation, New Illustrated Edition of the Suikoden, and incited a mania in Edo. This tale of 108 bandit warriors stressed camaraderie and loyalty as each warrior operated on their own code of justice. The Suikoden inspired prints, plays and tattoos, often serving as the main point of intersection between these popular arts. 72
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