Irezumi
和彫 / Edo period– / Style / Tattoo Styles
Japan's tattoo style, inspired by Kuniyoshi's Suikoden heroes, that carves narrative across the back and body. Waves and clouds frame the imagery — the gaku — turning the body into a single ukiyo-e.
Full-back narrative composition / Wave-and-cloud framing / Ukiyo-e derived imagery / Flow designed to the body
Dictionary entry
- Best used for
- Comparing primary sources and canonical works · Extracting principles that transfer to other media
- Type
- Observe the letters, signs and scale of reference works
- Composition
- Extract the one structure that governs gaze and information
- Material
- Verify the materials and behaviors specific to era, region and process
- Caution
- Don't reduce it to surface signs. Verify the context of era, region, technology and makers.
- Further study
- Kuniyoshi's Suikoden series / the lineage and apprenticeship of horishi / the meaning system of dragon, carp and hannya