Tattoos are, above all, a unique form of self-expression. Every element of a tattoo’s design plays a role in that expression, from size and placement to color and shading. This article will look at the role of color theory in Traditional American as well as Japanese tattoo traditions to inspire you for your next piece of body art.
Color in Traditional American Tattoos
Before starting with a broader discussion of tattoo colors in global traditions, let’s look at the American classic tattoo. Most traditional tattoos use minimal color palettes. Some incorporate only black lines, while others use red, yellow, green, or blue to highlight certain aspects of the tattoo. In other tattoo traditions, colors are more varied and more meaningful.
Every Tradition Has a Different Concept of Color Theory
The first thing you should know about tattoo colors and their significance is that every tradition has different ideas regarding color theory. After a brief rundown of what color theory is and how it works in the West, we’ll focus on Japanese color theory and how it pertains to tattoo coloring.
For now, just keep in mind the importance of being respectful of all cultures’ traditions. In the West, it’s commonplace to incorporate elements like cultural symbols and Eastern writing into tattoos. Learning the meaning behind those elements is one of the most critical parts of wearing body art respectfully. Color symbolism works the same way. So, without further ado, let’s get started.
Tattoo Colors and Their Meanings in the West
We’ll start with analyzing color theory and symbolism in tattoo traditions as close to home as possible, discussing how people perceive the meaning of different hues in the West. The article will use this framework in comparison to Japanese irezumi tattoo art, which contains some of the same meanings but also embraces different forms of cultural symbolism.
- Black
Black ink is the cornerstone of tattoos as body art. It’s used extensively for outlining, shading, and entire tattoos. - Red
Red is a passionate color that calls attention to itself. It symbolizes courage, passion, and sometimes danger. In the West, red can also commemorate romantic or familial love. - Blue
Blue, as a color, is known to have calming effects on the human brain. This effect might have something to do with the impact of spending time near water. The color blue represents wisdom, stability, and tranquility. Lighter shades tend to be associated more with feelings of calm, while darker shades can signify intensity or depth. - Green
As a general rule, green symbolizes growth, harmony, and fertility. In the West, it’s also associated with development, luck, and financial success thanks to the color of US money. - Yellow
Yellow is a bright, happy color that symbolizes renewal and clarity. - Purple
Historically, purple was associated with royalty and nobility because it was an expensive pigment to make. In modern times, it symbolizes more than just wealth and social status. Purple is also a very spiritual color that can represent wisdom and longevity. - Pink
The color pink is associated with romance and femininity in the West. However, the specific shade of pink in question can impact how it gets interpreted by viewers. Lighter shades of pink are more calming, while brighter hues can be somewhat jarring.
Japanese Tattoo Colors and Their Significance
Next, let’s discuss Japanese color theory regarding their unique tattooing tradition. Japan is the birthplace of the irezumi tattoo, a full-body work of art that can take years to complete, particularly when done traditionally. Irezumi tattoos used to be associated heavily with organized crime, but that stigma is beginning to fall. Now, people from all walks of life enjoy these traditional works of tattoo art.
Irezumi tattoos are often highly symbolic. They tend to contain certain traditional elements, and the colors used in the tattoos vary depending on what’s depicted and the underlying color theory.
- Red
Red symbolizes protection, vitality, and power. As such, it’s used to ward off evil spirits and bring prosperity to a tattoo’s wearer. It’s also associated with life force.
In irezumi tattoos, red is a powerful color that can symbolize both passion and the ability to overcome obstacles. It wards off negative influences and brings good fortune in the form of prosperity and good health. People wishing to invoke positive energy may want red incorporated into their tattoos.A red Hannya mask, in traditional Japanese theatre and folklore, signifies a woman who has turned into a vengeful demon due to intense jealousy, anger, or betrayal. The red color symbolizes a woman who has become consumed by dark emotions, transforming her into a terrifying figure. There are no set colors used in the hannya motif.
The color red can also indicate social status in traditional Japanese tattoos
How people interpret red in tattoos varies depending on the tattoo’s subject. - Orange
Where it is used, it tends to be associated with passion and strength or warmth and connection, depending on the context.There aren’t universally defined meanings for orange in Japanese color theory, so interpreting it correctly requires attention to context. An orange tiger tattoo associates the color with the strength and courage of the tiger. When used as a background element between other pieces, it may be more likely to symbolize connection.
- Yellow
Like orange, yellow has a more nebulous meaning than the primary colors. Its symbolism changes depending on the context in which it’s used. Generally, it’s associated with power and prosperity, particularly when used alongside gold to symbolize royalty.Some people in Eastern cultures also associate yellow with the Yellow River thanks to a popular folk tale. The legend tells of koi fish that transform into dragons after climbing the falls of the Yellow River. To tap into this tradition, tattoo artists can incorporate yellow into designs featuring dragons or koi fish. In this context, yellow symbolizes overcoming challenges and attaining worldly aspirations.
- Green
As in Western culture, the color green often symbolizes vitality and growth in Japan. However, it has further associations with nature, tranquility, and renewal that we don’t generally see in American color theory.Green isn’t the most common color in irezumi tattoos, but tattoo artists use it to represent specific deities or visual elements. According to Tattoodo, the deity Fujin, a god of wind, is depicted as having green skin, for example, which means a tattoo of Fujin will always contain the color green.
Because of its association with nature, green often appears in tattoos of trees, mountains, water, and other natural elements. In this context, it symbolizes interconnection and the strength that comes from nature. It may also invoke feelings of peace and calmness.
In Japanese culture more broadly, the color green also symbolizes the circle of life and death. Berger Tattoo describes this cycle as one of renewal following a season of change, highlighting the connection with the natural world.
- Blue
As with the color green, blue symbolizes tranquility. It tends to be used to lend meaning to designs that signify strength, wisdom, and good fortune, such as the dragon.Blue also symbolizes growth and renewal when used on certain design elements. It also has a very specific connotation of spirituality when used in lotus flower tattoos.
- Magenta
As a shade of pink, magenta is associated with femininity, and gentleness. It’s common to see magenta incorporated into tattoos of geishas, cherry blossoms, and peonies.Though it’s not as commonly used as blue, green, and red, magenta can add emotional depth to irezumi tattoos that creates additional nuance and meaning. The warm color is often associated with kindness.
While magenta is associated in some cases, fragility, it does not convey weakness in Japanese tattoos. Instead, it is often used to portray strength and calm. Life can be fragile, but the people living it possess great inner strength.
What Do the Different Tattoo Colors Mean?
As you can now see, the different tattoo colors have a range of meanings depending on the tradition the design was created within and the specific context in which the color is used. Understanding the significance behind the color palettes of different tattoo cultures is essential if you want to truly appreciate any tattoo’s beauty, particularly if Eastern tattoo traditions inspired it. When you’re unsure whether a specific color will be appropriate symbolically and look good on your skin, ask a tattoo artist for advice.
