Japanese Demons: Names and Mythology. Hanya tattoo Chinese masks how to understand what to buy demons

The meanings of the Chania tattoo are twofold: protector and avenger, wise guard and cunning demon, all-consuming passion and bitter regrets.

Meaning of Chania Tattoo

First of all, the demon Hanya or Hannya is a very memorable, bright and imaginative character. Especially on the body, the colorful image of Chania will look extraordinary.

In Japanese culture, demons are not strictly negative characters. They are more like perfume and have a protective function. Hanyu is depicted as a talisman. This image can be compared to a guardian angel.

The theatrical mask itself is made in such a way that on the one hand it looks intimidating and angry, and from another angle it reflects suffering, torment and regret, it seems to be sobbing inconsolably. This requires special skill in execution. Chania personifies a suffering soul who has taken revenge, but has not found peace.

The history of the image

The prototype of the Japanese demon is considered to be the Tibetan guardian, guardian of Buddhism, the wise Hannya, owner of a snake mask.

There is another legend associated with the Japanese mask. The girl fell in love with the wandering monk, fell in love passionately and selflessly. But he did not reciprocate, continuing his wanderings. The girl was overcome with resentment, anger and malice for neglecting her sincere feelings. These feelings turned her into a demon, giving her strength.

Having just been reborn, she set off to exact her revenge. She overtook that monk and punished him by burning him with her fiery breath. But regret and disappointment overtook her. Since then, a lonely demon has been wandering around, either cruelly punishing insensitive men, or moaning about lost love.

Many characters and images of Japanese culture and mythology carry dual meanings. Likewise, Chania serves to understand that anger and jealous rage can be caused by deep disappointment and despair. And a long life is meant for understanding, forgiveness, compassion.

Another legend says that the double mask was created by the monk-sculptor Hanya-bo for ritual dances. The mask is horned, and its mouth opens in a sharp-toothed smile. But when you look sideways, you get the impression that the demon is crying. This image itself is far from feminine, but it is the woman consumed by jealousy and anger that Chania personifies.

Interesting! In Japan, to this day, holding two fingers to the head is a gesture that means a woman is “going crazy” with jealousy towards her man.

Hannya looks very memorable. Two bull horns, an aggressive look, a fanged smile from ear to ear. Both the mask and the demon are always depicted in bright colors.

Color saturation also has its own meaning, expressing the degree of anger and passion. Scarlet color means all-consuming passion and intense indignation. Pale tones speak of calmer feelings, love, possessive feelings, the desire to hide the object of passion from the world, to appropriate it.

The breath coming from the demon's mouth symbolizes the destruction that comes from excessive passion.

There are images of Chania with a third eye. This image is intended to emphasize the direct meaning of the word. Chania is translated as "wisdom". Here the mystical additional eye is a sign of superhuman vision, insight. Look deeper, see more.

demon masks
Masks for Noh theater, as well as temple rituals and street festivals - 鬼面 “Onii-men”

1. 大鬼神 – daikijin - “Great demon gods”, they are also “Zenkishin” 善鬼神 (“Good demons” in their relativity).

They represent one of the 8 demon gods of Shugendo (Buddhism + Shintoism + Taoism - the main religion of Japan), capable of changing their appearance (like all “they”), while the entities of heaven and earth are hostile to each other - 4 to 4 or 5 to 3m. These are devas, nagas, asuras, okhas, garudas, gandharvas, kinnaras and mahoragas, specifically in the person of:

1) 梵天, 弁才天 – Bonten, Benten. Benten is equal to the Indian/Buddhist Saraswati - the goddess of highest wisdom, also one of the 7 gods of happiness (patronizes music), at the same time, is associated with the Shinto goddess of death - Izanami, who, having been kind and good during life, died and became terrible and vindictive. In the angry aspect, she is depicted with eight arms, with her head entwined in a white snake, which brings her closer to the image of a spider-snake (i.e., the image closest to the earth).

It is no coincidence that her peaceful appearance with a lute/biwa can often be found on the backs of the Yakuza, as well as the Hannya mask 般若. Because, Saraswati is again a hypostasis of Prajna-devi (Hannya) - the mother of everything - both heavenly and earthly, a two-faced goddess - yin-yang (as well as the good and evil hypostases of Shakti). Although Buddhists will swear that this is the enlightened wisdom of the Buddha, they cannot answer why Hannya is a demon.


2) 竜王 - Ryuuou. "Dragon King" is Nag(a/a), associated in Shinto with Yamata Orochi, in the form of a snake with a human torso and a human head, covered on top with a fan of snake heads, living in caves and ponds, on land, in water or under earth, representing the “wisdom of the earth.” This is also a female form - a Shinja mask, or Jia or Maija 舞蛇 (Dancing Snake) with protruding fangs and no ears:

3) 夜叉 - Yasha. He is also the Indian Yaksha, he can be a harmless forest demon/spirit - “Lord of the Forest”, or he can be a cannibal vampire bearing divine punishment. The mask in ancient images is closer to the Shinja with protruding fangs and horns:

In later variations, it is close to a dog's face:

4) 乾闥婆 – Kendatsuba. Gandharvas. This is a whole class of male half-devas, half-animals at the same time, serving to carry out the whims and orders of the devas, on which their earthly or heavenly disposition depends. In the first case - enemies-tempters of people who have taken the path of “enlightenment”. These are both air spirits and spirits of forests and waters.

5) 阿修羅 – Ashura (Asyura) – Asuras. Demons of anger, rage and madness. “Proud of their power and wisdom, the asuras became filled with evil and were thrown out of heaven by the gods” (this is akin to Susanoo’s divorce from Amaterasu).

6) 迦楼羅 – Karura. Those. Garuda is the “all-consuming sun”, the riding bird of Vishnu (the deva of the heavenly warehouse) – the enemy of the Asuras, and is the enemy of the wisdom of the Nagas, while being called the “enlightened mind” (namely enlightened), i.e. incinerating the unbelievers and those who do not bow to God. The patroness of Buddhism, which displaces Shintoism and all sorts of demons that are contrary to Buddha. True heavenly evil, in short x)

7) 緊那羅 - Kinnara. Kimnara, Kimpurusha - birds and lions with a human face or the whole body. Heavenly servants of Buddha.

8) 摩-羅伽 – Magoraka, Makoraka. Mahoragas, creatures related to nagas, i.e. cobra snakes capable of appearing human, but in the service of Vishnu/Buddha.

The last 5 do not have their own mask, and use the common scary “Daikijin” mask:

2. 紅葉鬼 - MOMIJI-ONI - “Demon of Maple Leaves.”

A certain demon of beautiful red maple leaves. There are people who are afraid of sakura, and there are maple leaves, and this is what this fear is. It was once believed that a terrible cannibal lived in maples, thanks to which the leaves acquired their bloody color.

Tanka Takayama Kaoru 高山薫:

鬼怒川の Kinugawa no

川面に写る Kawamo ni utsuru

山々の Yama-yama no

色深みゆく Irofukami yuku

峯の紅葉葉 Mine no momijiba.

"Along the river of demonic anger,

Mountains of maple leaves are floating,

Sprinkling the reflections in it with its own color"

3. ナマハゲ NAMAHAGE - “Demon of Harsh Life.” New Year's demon-auditor. A cannibal from the mountains with sawed-off fangs and horns. This is akin to buffoons, a couple of mummers in Namahage, walking through the streets and shouting “Down with the lazy!”, breaking into houses and demanding food and drink, while scaring children and girls. The owner must feed them to prove that he lived all year, working diligently and not being lazy. The demons calmed by this leave until next year. This ritual is considered a guarantee of health and prosperity for the new year.

4. 鬼太鼓面 ONDEKO-MAN – “Drum Demon.” On the drum and costume of the blond demon (or demoness, the mask has horns) there is a symbol of 3 commas - “heaven-earth-man”, or maintaining the yin-yang equality. The "demon" dances a demonic dance to the sound of a demonic drum, periodically hitting the drum. In theory, this is a ritual dance, akin to a shaman’s, designed to promote the fertility of the earth, i.e. abundant harvest and prosperity.

5. 鬼怒面 KIDO-MAN – “Demon of Wrath.” I didn’t find any information about him, except for the mask itself, akin to Kurohige and Akudjou. Bald brunette bearded man without horns:

6. 緑鬼面　RYOKUKI-MAN, 鬼面盃 KIMENSAZUKI - “green demon” or “dish demon”. The mask has 2 fangs and a compressed mouth. The ancient legend is unknown, but now it is believed that the image of this face under the bottom of the plate and a happy face at the bottom brings good luck, it’s like “There is happiness from the hands of demons.” Or: 「手の内に福を収めて、鬼は外」 (Te no uchi ni fuku o osamete, oni wa soto) - “Demon outside - luck in the hands.” Sometimes they eat from it all year, and on February 3, the day of cleansing from demonic evil in oneself and around, is broken. In this case, the dishes should ideally be green (but this is not always observed), which itself is a guarantee of well-being:

7. 酒呑童子 SHUTEN-DOUJI - “Drinking boy.” Appeared somewhere in 794. His story is complicated, some researchers believe he is the son of Susanoo from the girl he saved from Yamata Orochi. Susanoo built them a house on the outskirts of Izumo - the entrance to the land of the dead of his mother Izanami, but he himself went on further campaigns, and from birth his son began to drink sake, drank in liters, and at the same time he was terribly strong and wise. The mother retreated somewhere. By the way, it is curious that the Serpent Yamata Orochi was given sake before this, so who was the son born into...? x) In general, Yamata Orochi is a hypostasis of Susanoo, in fact, but the Japanese themselves do not know the truth of this allegory. In general, by the age of 3 the boy had already become a wonderful young man and a ladies' man, all the local girls hung themselves for him. The monks began to be embarrassed by his behavior and dubbed him a demon, apparently of debauchery.

According to another version, he was the son of Yamata Orochi and some girl, he was distinguished by super strength, he robbed cities until he was killed by Minamoto Yorimitsu from the heavenly forces of Amaterasu.

According to the third, neither one nor the other, but simply the son of a blacksmith, whose parents sent him to a monastery as unnecessary in the province of Echigo - the homeland of Uesugi Kenshin. There are many more versions, but there is little meaning in them, it is only known that he served as a prototype for the mass of legendary strongmen from birth and despised demon children. He is also Shoujou - the red-haired sake demon:

But mostly portrayed as all "them", with closeness to the Shinja -

8. 虎熊童子 TORA-KUMA-DOUJI - “Tiger-Bear Boy”, 熊童子 KUMA-DOUJI – “Bear Boy”, 金熊童子 KANE-KUMA-DOUJI – “Golden Bear Boy” (hence Kintaro ), 大毛童子 DAIMO-DOUJI “Strong-haired boy,” - go back to the previous one, strong children. Or Susanoo probably had more than one son, and they are all considered born demons.

9. 青鬼 AO-ONI and 赤鬼 AKA-ONI (Shakki) – Blue and red demons.

Brothers, almost twins. A collective image from previous ones, in the 20th century they were popularized by certain writers-brothers-cartoonists, known under the same names: Yamane Aoooni and Yamane Akaoni (1934). Having become unique symbols of Japan, they can be buffoons, they can be mischievous, they can be crybabies due to the fact that people don’t want to play with them and they have to live in the mountains.

And sometimes “they” look like this x):

(By the way, it was from this sledgehammer that the gangster idea of ​​driving nails into a bat developed.

And male femininity, widespread since ancient times, began with the fact that all horned “they” come from the female sex. Warriors deliberately approached the erasure of the edges of sex in order to achieve higher wisdom and strength. Hence all these fans, umbrellas, pipes, long hair, chic kimonos, manners, etc., which can be seen both in theater performances and in any at least somewhat historical anime)

Also, Red and Blue demons are used in Buddhist and Shinto rites of exorcism, masks close to Shinja:

10. KOKKI (KURO-ONI) 黒鬼 – “Black Demon”, sometimes the 3rd to the previous 2. With a small hammer, some say, he uses it to knock the stupidity out of people's heads x)

According to another version, the demon of battles, in samurai armor, holds a sword and rope - he lassoes it to hell. Sometimes paired with a shakki (red demon) he dances the dance of mortal combat:

11. 生成 NAMANARI - “Reborn”. This is a state that precedes the formation of Hannya or Shinja; the mask grows fangs and horns. This is the ghost of an unfortunate woman who died or committed suicide. Feeling unavenged, she does not rest in peace, but from yurei turns into a great demoness of Yin nature, and punishes the guilty, then the innocent, until someone calms her down.

12. 山姥 YAMANBA – “Mountain Witch”. Known since the Heian era. Another hypostasis of a wild woman, akin to our Baba Yaga, who went to live as a hermit in a hut in the forest mountains. It eats lost travelers, whom it lures by turning into a beauty. Sometimes, calling himself a guide, he leads them into steep rocks and pushes them into the abyss. Capable of turning her hair into poisonous snakes that sting the victim. She steals children, in general, since ancient times, all human disappearances have been blamed on her. There are cases when a witch shares her secret knowledge with any person if he delivers another person to her to be devoured, or is capable of some other exchange. In other myths, she is simply an eternally lonely hermit living in harmony with nature.

In one of the dramas of the Noh theater, its founder Zeami Motokiyo, presented Yamanba as a nanny who raised the great hero (which is tantamount to the demon of war) - Sakata-no-Kietaki (aka the prototype of Sakata Gintoki from Gintama), and his prototype is also Kintaro, also Shuten Douji, i.e. child of Susanoo or Yamata Orochi.

13. 黒髭 KUROHIGE - “Blackbeard.” Something like our Chernomor. The hermit sorcerer or demon god of the earth also has connections with snakes, the mask has no ears. Could be a dragon living in the sea. He is sometimes called the patron god of Noh theater itself.

14 鬼武悪 ONI-BUAKU - “Demon of the Evil Warrior.”

Goes back to the evil old man Akudjou, his next stage of transition from the ghost of an evil male warrior into a demon who haunts his sons after the death so that they avenge him, like the shadow of Hamlet's father.

15. 烏天狗 KARASU-TENGU – “Tengu-raven” - patron of dark ninjas.

Modern young Japanese, apparently under the influence of Western European tradition, often prefer tattoos of a somewhat negative and provocative nature. But if in the subcultures of Western youth there is an element of Satanism and necromancy in its Christian meaning, then the Japanese adhere to their traditional beliefs in demonic creatures, which are widely represented in Buddhism, Shinto and in folk tales and superstitions.

They- in Japanese mythology, this is the name for evil humanoid monsters similar to Christian devils and demons. They have red, blue, green or black skin, are crowned with horns, and huge fangs protrude from their mouths. They feed on human flesh and are difficult to kill in battle because severed body parts grow back into place.
There is a belief that a bad person can turn into a demon - They. Especially often in fairy tales, jealous and grumpy wives who grow horns on their heads turn into such monsters.
In Japan, on February 3, a ceremony to exorcise demons is held - They to Jigoku (to Hell). On the Setsubun holiday, the Japanese throw soybeans over the threshold of their houses (it is believed that They hate soy) and shout: “ They leaving! Blessings are coming! They symbolize illnesses and failures that should be gotten rid of. Actors wearing scary demon masks take part in the festive festivities - They. In theatrical productions They are defeated by heroes, or, like servants of the god of death, drag sinners to hell.
If we talk about tattoos, then here They have a protective function. In some legends, these demons serve as protectors of worthy people and punish bad ones. So, for example, if we talk about the yakuza, such tattoos are made by those who kill people the yakuza dislikes, or are engaged in collecting debts.

Radzin - god of thunder

There are many types of demons in Japanese folklore, and sometimes it is quite difficult to tell which demon a particular tattoo represents. However, some are identifiable.
Radzin- god of thunder. Very often mentioned with the wind god Fujin. Depicted as a ferocious horned demon, often tearing a scroll with its teeth. However, he is a positive deity, the protector of the Buddhist faith.

Ondeko-man

Ondeko-man. He is also called Oni-daiko ("demon dancing to the drum"). He is depicted dancing a demonic dance while accompanying himself on drums. You can recognize this demon by the round mons (signs) with the image of three commas, symbolizing “heaven - earth - man” or maintaining the equality of yin and yang. Dancers-drummers in costumes and masks depicting this demon often perform at various Japanese festivals. The ritual dance is intended to promote soil fertility, harvests and prosperity. Apparently, there is a connection between this demon and Radzin, and Ondeko-men may be one of the forms of this thunder deity.

Meaning of the Chania Mask tattoo

Hanya or Hannya is an ugly horned and fanged demon in Japanese folklore, into which a vengeful and jealous woman has turned. This character is used in some Japanese Noh plays. The Hanya mask is also used in festivals and Shinto rituals, symbolizing vice. It is very often depicted on tattoos, but obviously not in a negative way. There is a version that the image of this demon was borrowed from Tibetan culture, where the origins of many Japanese mythological creatures come from. In Tibet, it was the guardian of Buddhism, and “hannya” means the same thing as “prana” - “wisdom”. Often, cherry blossoms, a snake and a bell are depicted along with the Chanya mask.

Japanese demon Yaksha

Yaksha - this demon was borrowed by the Japanese from Hindu mythology. There they were beautiful semi-divine creatures, born from the feet of Brahma along with demons - rickshasas, but, unlike the first, they were servants of the gods. However, they were often dangerous for people. Yakshini, the female variety of Yaksha, drank the blood of children and ate human flesh. Among the Japanese, the yaksha became a vampire - a cannibal into whom people who deserve the punishment of the gods turn. On the other hand, a yaksha can be a harmless “goblin” - “Master of the Forest.”

Rokurokubi

Japanese fox demons - Kitsune

Kitsune. The image of a fox-werewolf penetrated into Japanese folklore from China, where it developed in ancient times. In China, these creatures are called huli-jing, and in Korea - kumiho. In Japanese folklore, a kitsune is a type of yokai (demonic creature). Kitsune are intelligent and knowledgeable, and can live for a very long time. The tail of this werewolf is a necessary attribute for creating illusions, and the older and stronger the fox, the more tails it has. Their number can reach up to nine.
According to legends, these animals have magical powers and are able to transform into humans - they usually take the form of seductive beauties, but can take the form of old people. They most often use these abilities to deceive people, and like vampires, they feed on human vitality and spiritual force. They are also capable of inhabiting other people's bodies and creating illusions that are indistinguishable from reality. However, kitsune often perform good deeds, and, unlike the Chinese and Korean traditions, they are not evil demons - cannibals.
In the Shinto religion, kitsune are messengers of the god of rice fields and entrepreneurship, Inari, who himself is depicted as a fox. When Shinto mythology was mixed with Buddhism, the fox received, in accordance with Chinese ideas, demonic functions, but in general, in the Buddhist tradition, the werewolf fox has a positive function, as an attribute of the god Dakini.
In tattoos it can mean dexterity, mental acuity, the ability to find a way out in seemingly hopeless situations. In addition, a tattoo makes it possible to charm people and inspire love, just like the kitsune does in fairy tales.
In the photograph, the kitsune is shown in the guise of an evil demon - a cannibal, which is more consistent with the Korean tradition. However, here he acts as a Buddhist guardian, and holds in his teeth a rosary with the skulls of apostates, so the tattoo should not be considered as an indication of the aggressiveness of its owner - it is more an indication of the strength of religious beliefs and a request to protect from troubles and enemies .

Bakeneko - “monster cat”

Japanese Bakeneko Tattoo

Bakeneko (Japanese: “monster cat”).
In addition to kitsune (fox-werewolves) and tanuki (werewolves in the form of raccoon dogs), in Japanese folklore there is another type of werewolf - cats that can turn into people. An ordinary cat needed to reach a certain age or size to turn into a werewolf. The strongest bekeneko have a forked tail and are called nekomata. Like other representatives of evil spirits, there is an ambivalent attitude towards werewolf cats in Japan. On the one hand, they could help people with their magic, as stated in many Japanese fairy tales and legends, but on the other hand, there are examples when this image was associated with revenge and death. According to Japanese folk beliefs, a cat can kill its owner in order to take on his appearance, or move into the body of a deceased person (the Japanese still try to prevent cats from visiting the dead). They can revive the dead by jumping over them, or raise skeletons and manipulate them like puppets. Cats can take revenge on their offenders. The Kabuki theater has a number of plays that feature werewolves - cats that have turned into people, usually women. They either take revenge on those who offended them, or the werewolves are possessed by the souls of the wives killed by their husbands. But in general, the attitude towards cats in Japan is positive, and they like to be depicted in scenes where they copy the behavior of people, and even in the form of monks.

Tengu. Karasu - tengu and Yamabushi - tengu.

In the traditional Japanese religion of Shinto, there are many deities - kami, among which six are awarded the title "Okami" ("Great Kami"). Five of them Izanagi, Izanami, Mitikaeshi, Sashikuni and the sun goddess Amaterasu are “amatsukami” (heavenly kami), and Sarutahiko is the guardian of roads, the spirit of crossroads and the remover of obstacles - “kunitsukami” (earthly deity). He is depicted as an old man with a red face and a very long nose. It is believed that the image of Sarutahiko-no-Okami served as a prototype for demonic creatures - tengu (literally “Heavenly Dog” in Japanese).
The Japanese believed in the existence of two varieties of tengu: karasu-tengu (crow tengu) and yamabushi-tengu.

The Yamabushi Tengu is a creature more like a human. He has a red face and a very long nose, and sometimes wears wings on his back. He was nicknamed yamabushi (the so-called monks - hermits who chose mountains for their solitude) because this tengu loves to turn into such monks. Like goblins, they can make fun of a person who meets them, and can even kill someone who harms the forest. However, in fairy tales they often help good people.

Tengu are depicted wearing strange little hats called “tokin” and having a fan of feathers or leaves that can cause strong winds.
Tengu masks are very popular in Japan, used in various festivals and in Kabuki theater performances.
In tattoos, Japanese theatrical masks are additional elements indicating the character of a person, or serve as a replacement for the full image of the creature whose patronage is expected to be received.

Kama-itachi

Japanese Kama Itachi Tattoo

Kama-itachi refers to the demonic yokai of Japanese folklore. In ancient times, the Japanese had a belief about malicious whirlwinds - kamaetachi (“attack”). Toriyama Sekien, an artist who studied Japanese demonology, who left images and descriptions of demons - youkai, gave this supernatural phenomenon the appearance of three weasels with claws - razors, which, whirling in a whirlwind, cut the skin on the legs of people they met along the way. He changed the original sound of the word to “kama-itachi” (“sickle of weasel”) - creating a pun that is very typical of him. These creatures are depicted as a spinning weasel whose legs end in sickle-shaped blades.

Nure-onna – “Water Woman”

Japanese Nure-onna Tattoo

Nure-onna (“Water or Wet Woman”) is one of the most ancient demons - youkai of Japanese folklore. This is a demon with the head of a woman (often very beautiful) and the body of a giant snake, who lives either near the river or in the river itself. In some legends, she has hands with sharp claws. She has beautiful long hair, which she likes to wash in the river, round shiny eyes like a snake, sharp fangs and a long, strong tongue - a sting with which she sucks blood or life energy from unwary travelers. In order to prevent the intended victim from leaving, the nure-onna resorts to cunning. She invites the person she meets to hold her child while she washes her hair, but as soon as he takes it in his hands, the child sticks to them and bends the person to the ground with its enormous weight. It is difficult to say what tattoos depicting this demon symbolize; perhaps disappointment in love and comparison of women with this insidious creature.

Kappa

If tengu can be considered a kind of goblin, then the Japanese variety of merman is called “kappa” (“river child”). It is a cross between a frog and a turtle, and has a beak instead of a nose. On the top of the kappa's head there is a saucer filled with water, which gives it enormous strength. However, she does not harm humans, although she loves pranks. Sometimes she even helps good heroes in fairy tales and legends.

Jankuy – “Demon Slayer”

Dzhankuy or Soki - “Demon Slayer”. The ghost, according to legend, is the protector of the Chinese Emperor Huan-song. Dzhankuy committed suicide, and therefore he himself became the demon Gui. However, he vowed to help people in the fight against their evil brothers. In Japan, this protective spirit has become very popular, as it fights They. This spirit is always depicted in Chinese clothing and with a sword, with which he defeats evil forces.

Yuki-onna – snow woman

Japanese Yuki-onna Tattoo

Yuki-onna (Japanese: “snow woman”). This is what Japanese folklore calls one of the varieties of yokai - that is, spirits. She can also be called Yuki-musume (“snow girl”), Yukijoro (“snow harlot”), Yuki-omba (“snow grandmother or nanny”) and many other names. Yuki-onna is a very popular figure in Japanese literature, manga and anime.
Yuki-onna appears on snowy nights in the form of a tall, beautiful woman with long black hair and blue lips. Her inhumanly pale or even icy-transparent skin makes her part of the snowy landscape. She sometimes wears a white kimono, but in other legends she is described as naked. Despite her amazing beauty and grace, her eyes can inspire horror. It seems to float above the snow, leaving no traces behind it, and at any moment it can turn into a cloud of fog or crumble into snowflakes. Some legends say that the souls of those who are frozen in the snow turn into Yuki-onna. For a long time, this spirit was considered an undoubted evil, killing unwary travelers, but over time, Yuki-onna began to be given more humane features. In some works, she even becomes the wife of the person she loves, and only the accidental discovery of her essence forces Yuki-onno to leave her beloved and her children forever, going to the Afterlife.
However, there are other ideas about this ghost. He may appear as an ugly old woman - a witch who freezes travelers, or drains their blood or life force.

Hatsuhana - Pious Ghost

Japanese ghost tattoo Hatsuhana

Hatsuhana or Hatsuna is a godly ghost. A character from the Kabuki theater play “The Appearance of a Miracle in the Hakone Mountains, or the Revenge of the Legless One” (“Hakone Reigen Izari no Adauchi”). A scene from the play is shown where the spirit of the villainously murdered woman Hatsuhana, being under the icy streams of a waterfall, prays to Buddha Amidu so that he will heal her weak husband, and he can take revenge on her killer. Praying under a waterfall was an ancient Japanese custom that did not change even after the adoption of Buddhism. It was believed that such a prayer has special power - a person proves his determination, self-sacrifice and great faith, and without fear enters the chilling, lashing jets of the waterfall. The image of Hatsuhana is for those who want happiness and prosperity for their loved ones and relatives, and are ready to make any sacrifice for this.

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Every person contains a certain mystery; many aspects of our life, our thoughts and experiences remain a mystery to others. A theatrical mask tattoo, the meaning of which indicates the need for secrecy, a certain pretense and duplicity, is perfect for a person in whose life such secrecy plays an important role.

It is not always possible to remain ourselves; circumstances sometimes force us to play different roles: one in a work team, another among friends, a third at home. In some cases, this can be called hypocrisy, but often we only hide some emotions and aspects of our personality so as not to hurt other people's feelings or harm ourselves and others.

The designation of a mask tattoo can be different, because it all depends on the sketch, the symbols that are used in it, and belonging to a particular culture. Therefore, today we will try to describe in as much detail as possible the meanings of different tattoos in the form of masks, and give some tips on choosing a style, composition and color palette.

Symbolism in different cultures

Polynesia

In Polynesian culture, mask tattoos play a very important role. They are called tiki and are depicted in such a way that the eyes look in all directions at once, symbolizing protection from any danger, no matter where it comes from. Tiki are warrior masks; in ancient times, only valiant defenders of their tribe wore such images on their bodies. Legend has it that tiki will protect its owner not only from the machinations of enemies, but also from the influence of evil spirits.

Africa

In the rituals of African tribes, who still live outside modern civilization, just like thousands of years ago, wooden masks are widely used, symbolizing certain spirits and deities. In Ancient Egypt, masks were an important component of funeral rites, symbolizing the outer shell that protected the soul of the deceased in the afterlife.

America

The shamans of North American Indian tribes wore a mask during the ritual, identifying it with the divine face that conveyed its power to the shaman.
During archaeological excavations of Inca settlements, golden masks were found that symbolized the sun.

Japan

One of the most memorable images in traditional Japanese tattoo art is the Hanya mask tattoo, depicting the face of a demon. Demonic entities, in principle, are very revered in the culture of the Land of the Rising Sun, although they carry the energy of destruction, they are used as amulets. The Chania mask symbolizes a girl in whom anger and vindictiveness have awakened due to unrequited love for the monk. According to legend, she turned into a demon and incinerated him with her fiery breath.

Ancient Greece

Most often in modern tattoo art we find theatrical masks that have already become classics; the meaning of a tattoo with their image should be sought in the traditions of ancient drama. In Greek plays, tragic and comic masks personified the type of character and his role in the production. Nowadays, these two masks, expressing opposing emotions, have become a symbol of the theater. The mask also had a ritual significance, personifying a god or some other entity from the other world in rituals.

Modern culture

Not only ancient traditions influence the art of tattooing, sometimes products of modern mass culture influence us so much that in some sense they change our outlook on life. For example, thanks to the famous dystopia “V for Vendetta,” the Guy Fawkes mask has become one of the popular symbols in tattoos. Its story takes us back to the 17th century, when Briton Guy Fawkes, who participated in the Gunpowder Plot, had to light a fuse that led to a gunpowder-filled room under the Houses of Parliament. It was there that he was captured by the authorities, and later, under torture, he revealed the names of his associates. If at that time Guy Fawkes was considered a cowardly and dishonest person, then the main character of the film speaks of him as a brave hero who was not afraid to challenge the authorities, although he suffered a fiasco.
The image of the legendary conspirator even influenced the English language. A new word appeared in it - guy. Initially, it denoted an effigy that was traditionally burned on November 5 - Guy Fawkes Night (this was the date that was marked by the attempt to blow up parliament). Later it began to be used to refer to any stuffed animal, then to a tastelessly dressed person. In modern English the word simply refers to a young man.

Meanings in modern tattoo art

A mask tattoo means the same thing for men and women, the only exception being the Polynesian tiki, which is traditionally considered a masculine attribute. The meaning of such a tattoo largely depends on the history of the design and belonging to a particular culture, however, such images also have a common symbolism:

• Stealth. This design is suitable for a person for whom it is important to keep certain aspects of his essence secret. The reasons may be different: distrust of others, shame, shyness, fear of rejection, fear of hurting other people's feelings, not living up to expectations, or simply introversion.
• Protection. In this case it is quite broad. Literally, the mask protects its owner, preventing him from being identified; figuratively, it serves as a talisman against trouble.
• Duality of nature. Such a tattoo indicates that the character of its owner is ambiguous; he can display unexpected qualities.
• Ability to adapt easily. The image of a theatrical attribute suggests that a person chooses a more advantageous role for himself depending on the circumstances, coping well with each of them.

Tiki

Such images most often act as the center of a composition with a Polynesian ornament, are a talisman, and go well with traditional symbols: turtles, which are also considered a protective amulet, spirals - solar signs, lizards, indicating mental strength and well-developed intuition.

Chania mask

The Chania mask can reflect the entire wide range of emotions that bubble up in a person suffering from unrequited love. In classic Japanese theater productions, when an actor wearing such a mask looks directly into the audience, the demon's facial expression looks angry, aggressive and terrifying. But if you tilt your head a little, completely different features appear in the image; you get the feeling that the demon is sad, almost crying. Indeed, a person whose feelings remain unrequited simultaneously experiences anger at fate and the object of his sympathy, resentment, melancholy and pain.

Theater traditions

A smiling mask is an attribute of Thalia (the muse of comedy), characterizing a positive person. His way of thinking is positive, he goes through life with a smile, willingly meeting obstacles along the way.
The crying mask is an attribute of Melpomene (muse of tragedy). Such an image indicates melancholy, a pessimistic attitude, and a tendency toward fatalism.
A tattoo of two masks means that a person is able to reincarnate, play different roles depending on what fate has in store for him, what circumstances his life confronts.
Such images go well with other theatrical surroundings: curtains, musical instruments, binoculars.

Venetian masquerade

Venetian masquerade masks, although they differ due to the richness of decoration and color schemes, are designed to equalize all participants in the masquerade. Therefore, such drawings carry within them both the idea of ​​anonymity and the idea of ​​equality. Images of a girl wearing a mask are especially popular.

Hollywood

Apart from the famous V, the film industry has given us many characters who are now known to everyone. Hollywood masks usually speak of passion for a particular film, the idea that is embedded in it. For example, Jason’s mask from “Friday the 13th” indicates an interest in the topic of maniacs, bloody massacres, and the reasons why a person begins to commit atrocities. Such drawings look great in combination with images of murder weapons, for example, a chainsaw, knife, machete.

Joker

If we are talking about a card figure, the Joker mask will indicate a gambling person who is not afraid to take risks and gets pleasure from it; if we are talking about a DC Comics character, then the image will indicate sympathy for him, identifying oneself with him.

Stylistic decisions

When it comes to style and color palette, the choice is very wide, but often depends on the symbolism and cultural background of the design. For example, it would be completely illogical to depict tiki in any style other than Polynesian. A tattoo with a Chanya mask also has certain limitations, because it looks good only in the traditional Japanese oriental style in combination with dark waves, lotuses, peonies and other attributes characteristic of such images. The color of a demon's face is of great importance - the darker it is, the stronger the demon's rage.

Bright, richly saturated tattoo sleeves with masks in the new school style look gorgeous. A composition can consist of many elements: a stage, backstage, an auditorium, and even an orchestra pit. Works that contain some sarcasm, for example, a laughing horned devil and a crying angel with a halo, also look interesting in this style. Such a tattoo may indicate that sometimes bad deeds bring joy and satisfaction, while good deeds bring pain and suffering.

A realistic portrait of a girl whose face is hidden by a luxurious Venetian mask on her hand will look cool. Realism is a rather complex style, so choose a master responsibly, because not everyone will succeed in such work.

A tattoo depicting a demon has become quite popular not only among Satanists and atheists, but also among ordinary people. What does the owner of such a tattoo mean by the meaning of terrible and terrible demons, often depicted with fangs, horns, torn wings and cloven hooves?

General Meaning of Demon Tattoos

The general meaning of a demon tattoo can be expressed in the following terms:
– temptation and enticement;
– weaknesses and vices;
- deceit and anger;
– service and patronage of evil spirits.

A more detailed meaning depends on the individual character, of which there are plenty in the underworld. It should be noted that the symbolism of the demon and the devil should not be mixed. In the hierarchy of dark forces, they vary significantly in weight and degree of influence.

Types of demons and their meanings

1. Demons-vices

Here the owner of a tattoo of a particular demon shows the vice to which he is susceptible or from which he seeks to get rid. For example, the right hand of the devil is the demon Beelzebub - an evil and powerful spirit whose main vice is gluttony.

2. Demon patrons

There are also demons who patronize any type of craft, science, or art. For example, the demon Ronwe is an assistant in understanding all the languages ​​of the world, and the demon Orobas has the ability of foresight. It helps both to see future events and to gain knowledge about what has already happened.

3. Japanese demons - Oni

Famous heroes of Japanese folklore are increasingly gaining popularity among tattoo artists. Unlike Western demons, which are depicted in classic black and white, they are often painted in different colors - usually red, black and green. The food of Japanese Oni is human meat. According to legend, any evil person can be overcome by the Japanese spirit Oni and become one. They are almost impossible to kill - any severed body part immediately grows back.

The most famous Japanese Oni:

– Radzin– often depicted tearing a parchment scroll. This is the god of thunder, designed to protect Buddhists and their faith.

– – is usually depicted dancing and playing drums or tambourines. It symbolizes prosperity and fertility, a good harvest on earth.

– Chania mask- a disgusting demon into which, according to legend, a grumpy, jealous and evil wife can turn.

- is depicted as a lovely woman who gets married and only at night reveals her true dark essence. Its victims are blasphemers.

– Kitsune– depicted as a fox with many tails. This demon deceitfully feeds on human energy, can take on the image of a person and even inhabit his body in order to create illusions that are in no way different from reality. This tattoo symbolizes dexterity, cunning, wisdom and resourcefulness.

– – depicts a demon with a human head and a snake body. It is also called the water woman. This tattoo is more suitable for men who have failed in love and suffered great disappointment.

There are many other very colorful Japanese characters with demonic essence.
Tattoos with demons are usually applied to the back, chest, thigh, shoulder and side.

Below you will find all of our demon posts: