Japanese Phoenix tattoo

This Japanese Phoenix tattoo sleeve is still in progress and needs couple more sessions to be finished. The tattoo done in Japanese style at Tattoo Culture, Brooklyn. Please, fill out this application to schedule your free consultation appointment if you like to get ‘something similar’.

HOU-OU or PHOENIX in Japanese Tattoo.

Probably the most important of the mythological birds, its unmatched splendour and the immortality it derived by rising from its own ashes.

Its name comes from the Greek word for “red”, the colour of fire and it came originally from Ethiopia and thought to appear only once every 500 years. In ancient China, the feng-huang bird was able to unite both yin and yang and was used as a symbol of marriage. In ancient Rome, it was stamped onto coins to symbolize the endurance of the empire.

In some versions of its story, it flew to distant lands gathering fragrant herbs which it returned to its altar, setting them afire and burning itself to ashes -rising three days later. In other versions, when the time of its death would draw near, it built a nest of aromatic twigs in which it would burn, simply from the heat of its own body. Tattooing the phoenix is done from different times of it existence, thus not always on fire!  However, no matter the details of its origin, life, or death, it has become a symbol not only of the undying soul, resurrection, and immortal life but also one of triumph and a rebirth in this life. (Source)

Phoenix Japanese Tattoo by George Bardadim, Tattoo Artist, Brooklyn, NYC