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That a tattoo Hannya represents a demon looks pretty clear ... But there is much more to discover about this mysterious mask than what we see at first glance.
Do you want to discover the meaning of this curious japanese tattoo? Then read on!
The characteristics of the hannya mask
The characteristics of this mask, typical of Japanese noh theater, are very clear at first glance, although sometimes others are similar, such as that of the tengu. In the case of hannya masks, they are characteristic, in addition to the red face, fangs, metallic eyes and two horns on the head. As we said, these masks are typical of the noh theater so that the actors could play female roles even as men.
The hannya represents a female demon consumed by jealousy. According to the mask and Japanese beliefs, she may be more or less lost in her devilish condition or still hope to revert to her human form. Thus, the more exaggerated the features of the mask and the longer the horns on the head, the less chance they have of returning to normal. Besides, the paler the face, the more refined the poor woman's character.
The mask in a tattoo
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If you want to get a hannya tattoo, you have a lot of possibilities at your disposal. For instance, In addition to taking into account the colors of the face, you can also play with the facial expression (Part of the grace of this mask is that depending on how you show it, it can express anger or sadness). It is a good option to decide on a color design and of a certain size so that it is very bright and eye-catching.
It is also positive that you look for a expert tattoo artist in the Japanese style who knows how to advise you on how to get the most out of this design.
We hope this article interested you and encouraged you to get a hannya tattoo. Tell us, did you know the meaning of this tattoo? Do you wear any inspired by this mask? Tell us what you want in the comments!