What Cherry Blossom Tattoos Mean And Why They Are Popular
The cherry blossom permeates Japanese society and plays an integral role in its culture. Like all spring flowering trees and plants, it heralds the passing of the cold bleakness of winter and the fresh beginning of a new season of growth and, hopefully, plenty. It has particular relevance in a country that can suffer from harsh winters, which the people long to see come to an end.
The beautiful softness and lightness of the blossoms contrast starkly with winter's harshness. The sight of this beauty and life springing from the lifeless, sterile winter landscape cannot help but fill the people with joy and hope with the promise of better things to come.This promise is no less real in the more temperate parts of Japan where the blossoms will generally flower earlier.
Symbol of Prosperity and Good Fortune
The Cherry Blossom season is celebrated throughout Japan. The season does not last long - about a week for the blossoms to bloom and another week for them to fall. The season is of such importance to the people that the weather forecasters and media follow the "cherry blossom front" which reports the first flowering of the blossoms in the south and follows its journey north. People and communities come together in cherry blossom festivals. They see the blossom as a symbol of prosperity and good luck.
Symbol of Beauty and Hardiness
The cherry blossom is really Japan's unofficial national flower. Its image is everywhere.This means there is plenty of scope for the tattoo artist as Japanese artists have already given the lead. Some varieties of trees have flowers with up to a hundred blossoms, which lend themselves to imaginative artwork. This in turn lends itself to almost limitless opportunities for self-expression.
The female qualities of natural beauty and delicacy make cherry blossom tattoos particularly popular with women. They signify beauty, new life, new hope, and new beginnings. The life and beauty of the blossom is all too brief - all the more reason to capture its image and to keep it.
Cherry trees produce the best fruit after the winter chill and there are some particularly hardy varieties bred to withstand the harshest conditions. They are grown throughout the world in extreme winter conditions. That is the reason they represent hardiness.
A Reminder that Life is Fleeting
Bushido, the code of the samurai, has the cherry blossom as its emblem. Each person is reminded that, like the blossom itself, life can be short and death could strike at any moment. In other words, make the most of life today, as it may be your last. The image of the cherry blossom is a constant reminder of this.
Cherry blossom tattoos bring us beauty, hope and endurance - all qualities that enhance our lives. Whether we wear them or look upon them we are the better for them.
About the Author
William Burnell has a longstanding interest in the art, designs and history of tattoos. He enjoys sharing this interest with others and in helping them in their quest for their unique symbol of self-expression. You will find all you need to know on tattoo designs, prices, and aftercare at http://www.tattooartdesign.info
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