My Tattoo









Meaning


Objects:

Dragon
    Eternity. For the Chinese, the dragon is an emblem of goodness and Imperial Power, which brings the universe into its thrall. It also stands for the Universe itself, a chaotic force which none of us can truly master. No human can slay a dragon. This relates to Christianity. When a dragon appears on a gravestone, Saint George rides out to kill them. This symbolizes triumph over sin. And when one triumphs over Sin, one has also won relief from the most stinging qualities of death: the punishments for our sins. I am human and I know that I can never conquer all sin alone. By branding my skin with the symbol of the dragon it is my daily reminder that one day I will die and I will be standing in front of those gates cold, naked, and scared, being judged for my sin. At that time I can only hope that Saint George will ride out to slay the dragons on my back and free me of sin. George is also my confirmation name and Saint George�s symbol is the dragon. In Christian symbolism a dragon is also depicted as a combination of matter and spirit; a serpent and a bird. The serpent portion represents the devil and the bird signifies the transcendent soul in spiritual form. These are opposing figures, creating an inner balance in a creature that is never at rest (me). Light against Dark, Good against Evil.

Fish
    In China, this is an emblem of wealth and abundance. The Chinese word for fish "yu" is phonically identical with the word meaning abundance. As you can see there are two fish, and likewise in China a Pair of Fish are a charm against evil.
    In relation to Christianity, the word "fish" translates into Greek as "ichthus", which is an acronym for "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior." (Iesous CHristos, THeou Uios Soter). Early Christians adopted the fish symbol as their own, and used it as a secret code to identify themselves to one another and avoid persecution. One person would draw an arc in the sand, and the other would complete the sign to show his brotherhood in Christ. The followers of that early sect were called pisciculi - little fish.

Yin/Yang
    Since ancient times the Chinese have ascribed the source of all movement of matter and the life force to the constant, equilibrating pull of the negative and positive sides of energy, which they call the Yin and Yang. The Yin and Yang are embodied in the Chinese symbol for the TaiChi: Yang (Day) & Yin (Night). The circle is used to symbolize the origin of life while the Yang signifies birth or the day and the Yin signifies death or night. Because the two portions of the Tai Chi balance each other perfectly, the symbol is also referred to as the "Ultimate Principle of all matter". In Oriental art, medicine, and philosophy, everything is classified under these two stems. To maintain harmony and order in the universe and within the body, one must keep the Yin and Yang constantly in delicate balance. Chaos and disharmony abound when their even pull is disturbed in any way. Like opposite poles of a magnet, the Yin will attract a Yang, but will repel another Yin force. Yin-Yang is a dynamic symbol representing the flow and interaction of the two polar energies whose totality encompasses creation. The spots in the symbol show that each energy at the height of its manifestation contains the seed of the other, into which it will transform.

Sun
    The sun�s structure is very important, as well as its overall symbolization. It contains two sets of different style light-rays; there are eight rays of one style. Through its links with the great eight-fold systems of East and West - the trigrams of the I Ching (The Book of Changes: Yin/Yang) - the octagon gains its connotations of wholeness, rebirth, and cyclical infinity. The octagon's association with infinity is further strengthened by the lemniscate, the symbol for infinity, taking the form of a figure eight lying on its side. The octagon is intermediate between square and circle, confirming the sense of spiritual regeneration. The reason for the two sets of eight is because they represent the loops of the figure eight in the lemniscate. In spiritual terms, the lemniscate represents eternity, the numinous and the higher spiritual powers.
    In Christianity, Christ is the morning star and the star's essential meaning is that of the Divine Light, my light when all else goes dark. Because of its eight points it also gains the representation of fullness and regeneration.

Sword
    In Christianity, this is an emblem of the archangel Michael, the captain of the hosts of heaven. Bearing a tattoo of this symbol points the owner to a just and generous pursuit of honor and virtue in warlike deeds. It is also a symbol of authority, discipline, and power. "Take the Helmet of Salvation and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Eph. 6:17) This was said by Saint Paul of Tarsus.
    To me however, a sword is a weapon of great power bestowed only to warriors who are worthy to wield it. I strive everyday to better myself in hopes that one day I too will be worthy of the sword. But do not be fooled, because I am worthy of the sword does not mean that I will take it up unless I need to. I refuse to be indifferent on terms of punishing evil, but it is simply an instrument of peace in my humble hand. One day I will forge my own Samurai Sword in the old blacksmith ways; it's one of my dreams.

Shield
    "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." (Eph. 6:16) For with a sword, must come a shield. The ability to defend is equally important because I will not be the first to attack. There are ways of avoiding conflict and I believe that those must be exercised before force is taken. The ability to defend in attempting those paths is more important than my ability to fight. This is why the shield hovers above the sword in its placement amongst the tribal design.


Wording:

Virutis (yeong chih)
    This is the Latin word for Courage and the symbol on the top. This one word embodies everything that I am and everything I strive to be. Any obstacle can be overcome with courage. Many don't know that courage can be learned. The word "courage" comes from the Latin word "core" which means heart or center. The heart is an age-old metaphor of love. True love is the foundation of optimism. This is not romantic love but principle centered love. Love based on the principle that all humanity is worthy of love and respect, agape. To me, it is the state or quality of mind or spirit that enables me to face danger, fear, or vicissitudes with self-possession, confidence, and resolution. I hope to possess the bravery and the wisdom to overcome my fears and not only conquer evil around me, but within me. This word means more to me than any other, and so it sits atop my tattoo and the pyramid becoming the lookout for my future.

Veritas (jen shiang)
    This is the Latin word for Truth and the symbol on the left. To me it is more than just conformity to fact or actuality; it is reality. You cannot hide from the truth, it will find you. I know that sometimes when looking into the eyes of retribution, I fall fault to the temptation of denying what is real. But honesty is a virtue I strive in mind and body to possess and achieve. When all else is lost, at least you know that you can trust yourself.

Aequitas (jeng yi)
    This is the Latin word for Justice and the symbol on the right. It is the maintenance or administration of what is moral especially by the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards or punishments. I believe that every person is governed by a simplistic law created through our connection with humanity. The fact that we are all human ties us together in more ways than one and beyond the laws of our countries and the laws of our gods, lays a structure that we must all follow. Justice must be served to those who defy this law, and thus is the way that I base my life.


Placement:

Symmetry
    In my design, beauty comes not only from the symbolism but as a result of its balance and harmonious arrangement. Each side compliments the other by giving it equality in design, being both pleasing to the eyes and mind. Like the Yin/Yang, chaos and disharmony abound when balance is disturbed in any way. I find this to be true in art, there must be a sense of completion and stability. In staining my body with my own art, symmetry plays an important role in keeping my mind, body, and soul in harmony.
    In Christian symbolism as well, the right side is just, active, masculine, life, and light-giving, it represents the suns and Heavenly principles. This symbolism brings one reason to why the word Justice resides on that side. The right also corresponds to the rational and analytical function of our brain's "left" hemisphere; a Yin/Yang concept. So in creating balance, the left must represents all the opposite notions: feminine, lunar, dark, and Earthly principle. Each person is a combination of principles in the eyes of Christendom; there are no physical absolutes.

Geometry
    Linear and geometric figures are considered Sacred Geometry. Multi-sided figures such as triangles, hexagons, etc represent the Trinity and the multi-dimensional aspects of the subject you mean to portray. Some geometric forms do have set symbolism: octagon = rebirth, triangle = Trinity. These shapes can be found in my design. The octagon is explained through the design of the sun in the middle, whereas the triangle can be found by connecting the virtues that lead my life. This is very important because both Courage and God lead my life, hence there placement at the top. The left is symbolized as Jesus Christ, or in this case Truth. Again, this is important because in Jesus never denied the truth of life, and in him we find the truth of our own reality. Lastly, the right is the Holy Spirit and also Justice. As explained before, Justice is on the right for its connection to symbolism, but it is there more importantly for its connection to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit works in us to make clear to us what purpose God has in mind for us. The Spirit guides us through many circumstances in life, bringing about endings and beginnings, opportunities and completions, opening and closing doors to the hallways of life. Thus does the law of humanity lead us through a just life.

       �God is a circle whose center is everywhere and circumference is nowhere."
                      - Hermes Trismegistus, ancient alchemist

Body
    I chose the back and that place on the back for a very specific reason. Everything falls into place at that particular spot. Firstly, the word courage and the Yin/Yang lay in the center, on my spine. To me, the meanings of these two things seep into my spinal cord and are then spread throughout my body. Secondly, the word justice is on my right side and I am right handed. Indeed justice must be done with the whole body, but my written word and most of my work are done with my right hand, doing justice through my actions. Thirdly, the tribal decoration begins at my shoulder blades. To me, this signifies a representation of Angel Wings. Although I know that I am not an angel, being catholic makes me a messenger of God. Also, when Saint George comes to strike down the dragons on my back, all that will be left are the wings. With the removal of my sin, my wings will have room to grow in full force, making me a true messenger and angel of the Lord. Fourthly, I also want it on my back for practical reasons. I want to be able to control when people see it and when they don�t. There are times in life when the display of tattoos may be inappropriate for formality and tradition; by putting it on my back I can accommodate both my own desire and the desires of others.


Online Research & Reading Material

   http://womencentral.msn.com/beautystyle/articles/tattoo.asp
   http://teenadvice.about.com/cs/advicemedical/bb/bltattoos.htm
     When I took the quiz from the site above, these were my results: Your score is 85. Go for it! You seem to have a level head about what it means to get a tattoo, how much it will hurt, and why the laws make you wait. This isn't a decision you take lightly and that is a good indication that a tattoo is right for you. Talk it over with your parents and then set the date!
   http://www.mydrawingboard.com/library/symbol/a-h.htm
   http://www.alsirat.com/symbols/symbols1.html
   http://home.att.net/~wegast/symbols/symbols.htm
   http://digiserve.com/heraldry/symbols.htm
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