Cherry Blossom Tattoo Designs & Their Meaning
Cherry blossom tattoos are a popular art design among both men and women across all age groups. These tats are one of the best ways to express your sentiments.
With beautiful flowers and colors, these tattoos express feelings of peace and enlightenment. In particular, the Japanese illustrations are famous for representing beauty and tranquility.
You can get cherry blossom flowers alone or in combination with other elements that suit your personality. Are you planning to get inked? Get inspiration from some of the various designs below.
Cherry Blossom Tattoos: The Symbology
Japanese cherry blossom flowers, which are often referred to as Sakura flowers, are among one of the most ancient and famous symbols of Japan. The beauty and elegance of these flowers are linked to the culture and principles of this country.
According to the Japanese, the flowering cycle symbolizes the stages of human life. It reminds us that we’re all brought into this life to flourish, fade, and die.
Symbol of Life
Even though cherry blossoms have a short-lived bloom, they’re heavily appreciated for their beauty. Due to their short life, they can serve as a reminder to live in the present. Don’t dwell on the past before you’ve bloomed, and don’t worry about the future.
Due to its short flowering period, these flowers symbolize a short life. Buddhists consider this flower as a reminder of our short-lived mortality. Life, like a cherry blossom flower, is short and sweet.
You can use this design to celebrate life post-illness or honor someone you’ve loved and lost.
Sexual Freedom
In Chinese culture, these beautiful flowers are a symbol of love. They’re considered to be dominating and sexual.
Getting this tattoo would indicate a sense of empowerment. Some individuals also get this done to celebrate their sexual freedom.
Honour
Samurai linked this flower with “seppuku,” which is a suicide ritual where Samurai would undergo evisceration with their blade to die in a religious and honorable way.
The spilling of the blood is linked to life dripping from the trees. This ritual is related to the cherry blossom flower as they both have a beautiful but brief existence.
Wisdom
For Buddhists, these flowers are also associated with wisdom. Once the flower blooms and begins to open, the beauty of the flower is revealed, so it’s wise to savor that moment, for it won’t last for long.
Cherry blossom tats are inked by individuals who have gained a sense of self or achieved a path to enlightenment. These tattoos can act as a daily reminder to celebrate life or life’s lessons.
Morals and Values
In Japan, these flowers are also used to symbolize the Japanese Samurai. These warriors are bound to a noble code called the ‘warrior’s way’ or ‘Bushido.’
Although many attribute a warrior theme to males, women, equally, value the related traits of respect, honor, dignity, and integrity.
The Samurai and blossom symbolize a balance between good morals and power. The cherry blossom tree is associated with the strength and sturdiness of Samurai, but at the same time, the delicate flowers represent the compassionate and honest nature of a soldier.
Popular Designs
Minimalist Single Stalk
You don’t have to overthink a cherry blossom tattoo. Often, we find people need to come up with extravagant designs that don’t suit their nature.
A single stalk of a cherry blossom or Sakura flower is an ideal option for a feminine tattoo. Petals can be added around the flowers to improve the aesthetic appearance of this tattoo.
Thick Branches
Thicker branches with small flowers look great with some cartoon qualities. Shaded branches contribute to the elegant look of this illustration.
Initials and Lettering
Cherry blossom tats with initials are a great way to personalize the art and pay homage to a loved one or an idol. This blends well with the rich meaning of celebrating life.
The initials could be on a leaf or up a twig or branch, on their own, or combined with a date, location, or something else that’s personal and meaningful to you.
Cherry blossom tats with Asian lettering look beautiful and elegant. You can go for alluring designs to give it a mysterious and sexy vibe.
Adding quotes in the shape of a branch and surrounded by flowers makes this illustration a great idea to get on the back.
Stand-Alone Cherry Blossom
The stand-alone cherry blossom flower looks stunning and feminine with a delicate black outline.
You can also get an exploded view of the petals to represent the short existence of the flowers. Older adults usually go for this design owing to its mature and sophisticated look.
With Animals
Animal lovers also tend to get tigers or lions between these flowers to enhance their beauty.
A crawling snake with a black outline and minimal shading combined with a chain of flowers is a delightful design, perhaps colluding the opposing forces of peace, through the cherry blossom, and the aggressive nature of snakes.
Elements such as hummingbirds can add beauty to this illustration. You can also pair the colors of the hummingbird and the cherry blossom flowers. These birds complement the soft, pink hue of these flowers.
You can also add certain pieces such as butterflies, water, birds, or insects if you’re interested in a nature-inspired illustration.
3D Design
A 3D illustration of these beautiful flowers with leaves gives the tattoo a realistic look.
Cherry flowers can be placed as a bracelet or cuff; this design is popular among females. Adding vibrant colors can enhance the design’s beauty.
Masculine Designs
If you want to shift away from the soft and gentle female traits, add some elements such as fire, skulls, or snakes that enhance the macho look of the art.
This is a good way to depict your calm and sensitive side with a more powerful nature. It’s an excellent way to reflect your personality.
Common Colors
Pink and purple flowers with watercolors make these tattoos look like a painting. These flowers look better without the black outline, although you may choose a lighter frame to make them stand out.
Matching cherry blossom tattoos is an excellent idea for friends. Adding yellow can further enhance the symbolism of friendship and loyalty.
A cherry blossom tree with a robin on the branch gives a realistic look to this art. You can add bold colors to the flowers to make them distinctive. It’s a great option for nature-lovers.
White cherry blossoms with dotted curves add elegance to the art and express the sensitive and tender nature of the bearer. White, pink, and purple blend really well together and would serve as a peaceful and calming tattoo.
Popular Placements
The forearms, sides, or biceps are ideal places for this type of tattoo due to a larger canvas being available to create a branching design. The branches, especially, could track the veins and arteries in the forearms, as an example.
Big blossoms growing upward can be placed on the back. You can add more elements such as scattered leaves to give it a more realistic look, with plenty of room due to the large surface area on the back.
Beautiful cherry blossom flowers can be inked on the rib cage, too. Pink and black have a genuinely fantastic contrast when brought together. Leaves and flowers can make this art look even more vibrant.
Cherry blossom illustrations can be extended over the hand to give the appearance of a sleeve. Pink flowers scattered throughout the arm, connected by delicate brown branches and leaves, is a good idea for anyone wanting an extensive and colorful tattoo.
Small cherry blossom flowers with branches that cross each other look beautiful on the shoulder or belly. Pink or red flowers look gorgeous behind the ear. This can even be extended to wrap around to the neck or to start at the neck, head down to the shoulder, but sprout up to behind the ear, too.
Best Cherry Blossom Tattoos
