![]() ![]() This is a great way to represent the idea of being Zen and accepting your life for what it is.Īnother tattoo that stands for imperfection is one of the enso with a lotus flower in the middle. The idea behind this tattoo is that the owner is embracing the idea of an imperfect life. The most popular enso tattoo is the one where the motif is tattooed with the tree of life in the middle of the circle. Because every enso image is not altered at all after the stroke of the brush, this could be the equivalent of that. They are a perfect way to express the idea of imperfection. In the case of a tattoo, you are letting the artist draw the enso according to their specifications. It stands for the perfect state of meditation or the infinite void.Īs a tattoo design, this image also symbolizes the moment where the spirit and body can create since the mind is completely free. In the Zen teaching of the Buddhist way of life, the enso is considered a sacred symbol. It can also represent the void and the vital state in which all dualities and distinctions are taken away. ![]() It conjures up its limitless power, magnificence, and natural phenomena. In its most wide sense, the enso tattoo meaning is tied in with the traits of the universe. This tattoo or drawing is often recognized as a type of minimalist art and an “expression of movement.” This is one of those simple tattoos wrapped with meanings. Moreover, it is used to describe the Japanese aesthetic in itself. ![]() The enso tattoo represents power, enlightenment, infinity, the universe, the void, and grace. Japanese calligraphy is one of the most used general subjects, and this applies even though the enso is not a character. The idea of this image is tied very closely to Zen practices. In the Japanese language, enso means circle. You cannot change it once it is drawn, suggesting that every enso will have slight differences, which coincides with the idea of imperfection. In the case when the enso is drawn within the rules of Japanese calligraphy, it should be done swiftly. It should be clear that the enso is created with one stroke of the brush. This is the mean reason why the drawing and tattooing of it are different. The look of the image should be as if it was painted on with a brush. In the case when the enso symbol is drawn or tattooed as closed, it might symbolize perfection. People who practice Zen can relate to the idea of wabi-sabi, or the beauty in not being perfect. When the symbol is open, it allows space for improvement and movement in addition to leaving room for perfection. This process involves using a brush to apply the ink to a thin Japanese paper known as washi. To illustrate the enso, you need the same mechanics and tools used to draw traditional Japanese calligraphy. Even though in most cases, the circle will be illustrated with an open space, there are so people who tend to draw a completely closed circle. A friend of mine remarked that the tattoo reminded him of the endless serpent that bites it's own tail (remember Ouroboros?).The look of the enso is like a circle drawn with a paintbrush. I chose the ensô not only because of it's symbolism, but also because I consider the imperfect look of asian brush drawings and calligraphy very aesthetically pleasing. See the wikipedia article for more infos about the ensô circle as a zen symbol. ![]() "Ensō is perhaps the most common subject of Japanese calligraphy, symbolizing enlightenment, strength, elegance, the universe, and the void it is also an "expression of the moment" and thus is often considered a form of expressionist art." The english wikipedia article on the ensô describes it's symbolism pretty well: These brush circles are called "Ensô" ( 円相 ) in japanese and are one of the central symbols of Zen. It's an incomplete circle, inked in the likeliness of a brush drawing. See for more info on the studio and the artists. I got it done by Denis at the Aloha Tattoo Studio in Karlsruhe, South Germany. ![]()
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