Hi, there! Are you looking for cool Japanese words for your tattoo ideas?
If so, aren’t you interested in Japanese kanji words of 4 divine animal gods? As a native Japanese who mastered over 2100 kanji letters, I can say these words are definitely COOL.
They are originally from Chinese mythology and each animal governs one direction and one season. The names of these divine animals frequently show up as Big Four titles in Japanese anime and video games. So you may have seen their names if you are an anime lover!
You can’t miss the Big Four for your kanji tattoo ideas. Check the words before you got in danger of choosing tacky words!
Honestly, I’ve seen countless weird kanji tattoos that totally make NO sense. Hope this post helps you to meet beautiful and meaningful symbols.
OK, now let’s begin!
Oriental Divine Animal Gods For Your Tattoo Ideas
SEIRYUU – azure dragon
SEIRYUU means “azure dragon”. The first letter is “blue” and the second one is “dragon”.
It rules the East and spring.
It’s said the Seiryuu symbolizes the water flow and brings you blessed rain and prosperity.
A dragon is one of the most popular motifs for Japanese traditional tattoos because it has the meaning of achieving social success.
BYAKKO – white tiger
BYAKKO means a divine white tiger. It’s a divine animal god that governs the West and autumn.
The first letter means “white” and the second one is “tiger”.
A tiger is regarded as the king of the beast in China because there were no lions in China!
It’s said the Byakko drives the evil away and bring you luck.
The Byakko has been regarded as a god of war and its name and design were sometimes adopted to military-related things. It symbolizes great power and I think it’s a good word for men’s tattoo ideas.
SUZAKU – vermillion bird
SUZAKU is a vermillion bird for the South and summer. It’s sometimes used as the same meaning or existence like a phoenix.
The first letter means “vermillion” and the second one stands for “sparrow”.
Is a sparrow a divine bird in Japan or China!?
Ah, NO at least in Japan. There’s a theory that a sparrow was a model of the Suzaku because it had a reddish body color.
The Suzaku controls fire and has beautiful 5-color tails. It’s said that it gives you the power to make your wish come true.
GENBU – black tortoise
GENBU is a divine animal god that guards the North and winter.
It’s often described as a big tortoise god. But to be accurate, it’s a chimera of a turtle and a snake.
The first letter means “black” and the second one stands for “martial arts”. The second letter represents that the Genbu is good at defense thanks to its tortoiseshell.
It’s said the Genbu brings you longevity and prosperity. The Genbu would be your guardian if you want the power to protect something, not the power to beat something.
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