Asian & Greek Inspired Tattoo

by Nancy
(Bloomington, IN, USA)

My soul in Ink

This tattoo was an amazing experience for me. Through the inspiration, design and inking it was spiritual through and through. The kanji is the Korean word "Kunja" written in Chinese kanji.

Kunja is the martial arts philosophy that I follow, and the yin yang represents my spiritual beliefs and how I live my life. I love the way the yin yang was designed by my fabulous tattoo artist (Colin McCain) to be very dynamic.

The concept of the yin and yang is not to be static, it's that there is bad within good and good within bad and it's always changing and never constant. Colin translated this idea perfectly into my tattoo.

The Greek around the edge is a quote from Niko Kazantzakis that I heard while studying abroad in Greece. As soon as I heard these words I knew I must have them tattooed on my body. "Den elpizo tipota. Den fouvoumai tipota. Eimai eleytheros." or "I have nothing. I fear nothing. I am free." It was how I try to live my life.

So, this was my first tattoo, and I wasn't nervous at all. I was ready to have this work of art on my back, it was amazing. I had it placed in the center of my back, where my Ki/Chi is. I figured if I was going to stamp a yin yang on my body, I knew it would need to be in my center.

I have already thought about any additions I might want to make to the tattoo...since my back does have a lot of empty space. I was thinking a big tree wrapping around the left side and a huge wave crashing around the right...maybe. We will see!

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