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Home Tattoos 101 Best Samurai Tattoo Stencil Ideas To Blow Your Mind!

101 Best Samurai Tattoo Stencil Ideas To Blow Your Mind!

by Jamie Wilson
Samurai Tattoo

Unleash the warrior in you with these amazing samurai tattoo ideas!

Samurai Tattoo
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The term Samurai was initially used as a title assigned to brave warriors from the aristocratic class originally known as bushi in pre-12th century Japan. Gradually, it became a generic name for the entire warrior class.

The samurai holds a sacred place in Japanese culture. Besides being an embodiment of honor, stoicism and discipline, the samurai clan is also a representative of several authentic discourses within the larger Japanese cultural setting. For example, the tea ceremony and the flower arrangement festivals are still a popular aspect of a Japanese experience.

Samurai tattoos owe their popularity to their larger-than-life framework and rich metaphorical import. These tattoos are extremely attractive since they feature a great deal of action, dynamism, detailing and use lots of bright colors. Moreover, their scale of representation is larger in size in comparison to traditional tattoos since the nuances and intricaciesof a certain design can only be effectively illustrated in larger tattoos which cover a wider surface area.

Angry Samurai Tattoo

Angry Samurai Tattoo
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A larger-than-life samurai tattoo design featuring a roaring dragon and a battle-field scene, this one is definitely a show stealer!

Spread across the length of the arm from the shoulder to the wrist, the artwork is a realistic take on the historical grandeur associated with the samurai in Japanese culture.

Inked in bold black ink intermittently punctuated with grey gradings to accentuate the features of the samurai’s angry countenance, the body art also has a dragon tattoo. The presence of the dragon alongside the samurai invests this sleeve tattoo with a symbolic import. Besides symbolizing bravery and masculinity, it also touches upon the theme of loyalty

Samurai Helmet Tattoo

Samurai Helmet Tattoo
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The helmets worn by the samurai had iron plates fixated in such a way so as to construct a semispherical structure known as haichi. In Japanese, Samurai helmets are referred to as Kabuto and they are considered an ingenious piece of ancient engineering today!

Unlike traditional samurai tattoos, this one focuses on the kabuto in such a way that the architectural nuances of the thing is precisely revealed. The vertical scale of the body art makes it most adaptable as a sleeve tattoo but you can also wear it along the waistline since the design features a profile angle.

The use of black ink diluted at certain strategic points render a metallic effect to the texture of the tattoo which sustains its resembles to a real kabuto made of ancient iron!

Samurai Mask Tattoo With A Surreal Spin-Off

Samurai Mask Tattoo With A Surreal Spin-Off
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An one-of-a-kind colorful samurai tattoo featuring a brightly-colored kabuto mask.

The tattoo artist has employed surrealistic color patterns to evoke a sense of movement and dynamism. As a result, even without the corporeal existence of the samurai, it’s potent energy is being perfectly conveyed through the body art. Wear this Japanese samurai tattoo on an exposed part of your body to ensure maximum color pay-off. You can choose a different color palette based on your preference as well!

Samurai Weapon Tattoo

Samurai Weapon Tattoo
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Of all cool samurai tattoos, Japanese swords are the most popular.

Whether it is Kurosawa’s Throne of Blood or Tarantino’s Kill Bill, the samurai sword also known as katana, is a staple cultural trope exploited mostly in an Oriental context in modern cinema.

The Japanese found beauty in all things natural and organic, it is to pay tribute to this unique cultural temperament that this beautiful tattoo interweaves the sword which is a symbol of bloodshed and death with blooming flowers that epitomizes life.

Just as the katana is double-edged similarly this tattoo has dual symbolism. It intercepts life with death; ending with beginning; destruction with healing. The vertical style of the sword is balanced by the circular placement of the blooming flowers.

You can get your tattoo artist to fill in the petals with pale pink and grade the sword in metallic black!

Samurai Tattoo Featuring Pagoda

Samurai Tattoo Featuring Pagoda
@dani_moreno_garcia via Instagram – Love this design? Try a Temporary Tattoo

The magic of this tattoo lies not in its extraordinary grandeur, but the attention that has been paid to each and every detail in the artwork. The majesty such a tattoo renders it a cinematic effect which is very rare.

The tattoo features a ferocious samurai striking a war pose amidst the scenic backdrop of a pagoda (places of worship in Japanese culture). The looming countenance of the warrior, his glorious helmet and the intricate detailing employed in fine black ink accounts for the high popularity of the tattoo.

Besides embodying valour and hypermasculinity, the tattoo also upholds the significance of religion in the lives of samurais. The primordial link between war and religion is once more highlighted in the artwork. Go for it if you want things bold and fearless!

Fierce Warrior Samurai Tattoo

Fierce Warrior Samurai Tattoo
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This one is a fun deviation from traditional samurai tattoo designs. Instead of focussing on the generic kabuto mask, it conjures a cross between the kabuto and the hanya.

The hanya mask is a part of the Japanese theatre and is used in many kyōgen and Noh plays, as well as in Shinto ritual kagura dances. The grotesque disposition of the mask in combination with the protruding horns and the bared canines, render an eerie appeal to the whole artwork.

The placement of the tattoo is also quite interesting. Scalp tattoo ideas are mostly suggested to those who are bald, but this one is strategically placed around the intersection of the skull and neck region which increases its suitability. If you swear by the mohawk hairstyle then you can consider this tattoo!

Cute Samurai Tattoo

Cute Samurai Tattoo
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In Japanese culture samurai is mostly associated with ferocity and fearlessness. The very utterance of the title invokes the image of an angry warrior armed in ancient masks about to strike his opposition dead! But this particular tattoo is a game-changer.

It completely dismantles the strictly disciplinarian discourse surrounding the samurai and in a fun way parodies the samurai cultural trope. It features a cute little puppy carrying a pair of swords on its back and pretending to be a samurai. It is a neat and simple outline tattoo drawn in fine black ink. Go for it!

Female Samurai Tattoo

Female Samurai Tattoo
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This one-of-a-kind female samurai tattoo consists of a full sleeve body art featuring a beautiful woman dressed in the samurai armor and wearing the mask. Only her eyes are exposed and they are drawn in fine strokes to bring forth her proud attitude and fearlessness.

Female warriors who fought alongside men in the battlefield in pre-modern Japan were referred to as Onna-musha or Onna-bugeisha. These were women exceptionally good at horse riding, sword fighting and weaponry. This particular tattoo, besides embodying courage and craftsmanship also upholds the notion of women empowerment. The use of black ink and grey gradings to fill in the details of the armor she is wearing while contrasting it with the shocking red of the mask invests the tattoo with a potent energy. The inclusion of pale pink flowers in the design asserts the fine balance between the masculine art of fighting and the feminine inclinations towards tenderness, both of which can be traced in a female samurai.

Goofy Samurai Tattoo

Goofy Samurai Tattoo
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A goofy, fun parody of realistic samurai tattoo, this one is at once attention seeking and aesthetically pleasing.

Featuring a monkey which appears drunk or for some reason out of its senses, this tattoo seamlessly interweaves the serious with the fastidious, to a hilarious effect. The monkey wears a samurai helmet to which is pegged a mask whose countenance is exactly the opposite of real samurai masks. In this tattoo the mask wears a sad face which further adds to the tragic farce of the whole design. The use of bright colors adds to the aesthetic appeal of the tattoo and render it a vibrant vibe, postmodern vibe.

Unique Samurai Tattoo

Unique Samurai Tattoo
@alienstattooindia via Instagram – Love this design? Try a Temporary Tattoo

The last on the list is a grand samurai tattoo which features a warrior facing sideways in full armor and mask, drawing his sword form its sheath.

The most beautiful aspect of this tattoo is that unlike generic samurai tattoos it does not focus solely on the countenance of the warrior, rather his captures the full posture in its absolute grandeur. The detailed engravings of the chest plates and the red swipe across the helmet which probably symbolizes a rising sun, highlights the deep metaphorical implications of the body art. The samurai as we know is assigned with the duty to guard his native land and fight for its people; he is an untarnished paradigm of patriotism.

Thus, to be a samurai is to live a life precariously perched on the brink of death. Although darkness never leaves his side, yet the sun never sets above his head. It is his deeds of bravery and self-sacrifice that shine as a halo against him.

The ideal samurai was expected to be a stoic warrior who strictly adhered to an unwritten code of conduct, later codified and popularized as Bushidō, which held courage, honor, and selflessness above life itself; ritual suicide carried out by disemboweling (seppuku) the samurai was institutionalized as a much-dignified alternative to dishonor or defeat. You could also check out a few other tattoo designs like:

Feature Image from Pinterest – Love this design? Try a Temporary Tattoo

How do I make a samurai tattoo stencil?

To create a samurai tattoo stencil, you will need to find a design that appeals to you. There are several ways to go about this. You can draw the design yourself, look for inspiration from existing tattoos and art, or search online for images of samurai-themed designs. Once you have chosen your design, it’s time to start creating the stencil. You will need to trace the design onto tracing paper with a pencil. Once you have completed this step, you can carefully cut out your design and place it on your skin. The final step is to use tattoo ink or paint to transfer the image onto your skin, resulting in an authentic samurai tattoo!

How do I care for my samurai tattoo stencil?

It’s important to take care of your samurai tattoo stencil in order to ensure it remains intact for as long as possible. After creating the stencil, be sure to store it properly by folding it and placing it in a safe location, such as a plastic bag or an envelope. Additionally, you should avoid exposing the stencil to water or other liquids. Finally, try to keep the stencil away from direct sunlight or any other excessive heat sources as these could fade and distort the design. By taking proper care of your samurai tattoo stencil, you can ensure its vibrant colors will last a long time!

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