Whether they really contain the souls of the deceased
samurais, or is it simply a case of pareidolia, seeing faces in
usual places, as the extension of our creativity to connect
our ancestor’s linage in the present time. One things for
sure, having it tattooed on the skin, acts as a memento and
acknowledgement of their ancestor’s achievement and the
pride of their household.
Water’s Opposite: FIRE
The feudal systems during the Edo Period continues to hang
in the air as the modern Japanese insists on keeping the
image of the emperor. Just as how Britain have Queen
Elizabeth, Japan takes pride of their leader figures, which
they believe to be the essential guide in nationalism and
self-determination within Japan. And other than the
imperial flower, one of the other most iconic representation
of the throne is the phoenix.
Most people will think of the Western version where the
phoenix rises from the ashes, but that is not the case in
Japan for it has closed itself off to foreign influences during
the rise of these tattoo designs. Instead with the same logic
of how a dragon is created, phoenix is said to be a
combination of various animals they encountered on their
journey. When its death draws near, it would surround itself
with fragrant herbs and together, everything burns from the
heat of it body and it is renewed. Similar to how an eagle is
“reborn”. Where it breaks of its old beak and shredded of its
feathers that are growing too long, it is a painful process,
and a game of chance. You either walk away with a massive
reward or death awaits you.
Combined with the element of fire, phoenix is always
depicted in the color red and its vibrancy are far from its
malicious annotations, but rather the symbol of triumph
and transformation. Back then, after the collapse of the
shogun, the emperor regained its authority and rebuilt
Japan to face the modernization of the outside world. It
represents the appreciation of life from the cycle of rebirth
and the love for humanity in one’s soul. The emperor was
constantly being pressured and compressed by the shogun
just a decade before their redemption of authority. The
phoenix indeed lives up to its name for their burning
passion and underlying determination of their existence.
Due to the forces of birth and death working as one, the
being of a phoenix symbolizes success and unexpectedly,
while most mythical creatures aim to achieve divinity,
phoenix on the other hand is a creature that descends from
heaven and if it returns, it is considered a sign of trouble
instead. They are the absolute beings and it shows how
Japan express their gratitude towards a ruling figure. In a
deeper manner, they require guidance in their path, for they
believe that the one at the top represents everything that
Japan have.
@kyoto.tsujibori
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