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Aku Soku Zan tattoo

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H1K0

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Hi I was thinking of getting a tattoo on my left arm with the Japanese word "Aku Soku Zan" but I couldn't find any good Japanese writers or artist. I want the word written in Traditional Japanse brush. Can anyone help? can anyone make a good word art of it please.
 
Evil what the what? Aku is the only word I know out of those. what do the other 2 mean?
 
I believe I heard that it means "Kill evil immediately" or the sort.
 
Aku = Evil
Soku = instant, immediately
Zan = slay or kill
 
... you might want to rethink this or look into the history of that phrase a bit more before getting it permanantly engraved in your body.
 
Yes, that is the main origin, but there is always plenty more attached to a phrase like that than just the words.

It is entirely up to you, just saying that you may want to look into it a little bit more is all.
 
H1K0 said:
umm yes I have, its a bushido law lived by the Shinsengumi.
Click to expand...
Maybe so, but I expect that 悪 即 斬 would be more associated with certain computer games nowadays.
 
I have a problem with the block in the animation above, forth move. He'll get a chip in his blade doing that!

Oh, and I'd do more research before putting a line from an anime on my body permanantly.
 
ok. to all of you haters out there... this phrase has only one meaning. It is exactly what it says. So long as you adhere to it and live by it exactly as it was meant to be, then there is no problem with getting it "permanently engraved onto your body". If you believe in it, then do it. And to those of you who are squemish about it, don't try to understand something beyond your comprehension. I appologize if this offends anyone. I assure you that this is not my intention.

On the flip side, home boy has a point. Make sure you know fully what bushido is. Read the book, "Bushido" by Inazo Nitobe and "Book of Five Rings" by Mushashi. Once you have a comprehensive understanding of the warrior lifestyle, then and only then will you be able to justify your reasons for getting this tatoo, other than that you think it is cool. Of course, once you understand the way of the warrior, you will realize that you neither need to ask for advice on what to do about the tatoo nor do you have to defend your reasons for getting it.

A good day to you all.
 

I hate it when people lack the stones to state a forceful opinion without feeling the need to attach an apology to it.
 
Okay, So how about some advice for people who live on planet Earth?
 
I can't believe we are continuing to argue the validity of a saying that has been popularised by an childrens anime and lacks actual meaning outside of that - irregardless of its entry in the works of Miyamoto.
 
A tattoo is a very personal matter, and if he thinks the words will fit good, then it is his opinion. Ihave two tattoos in Kanji-style myself (both from my Martialarts studies) and three Dragons. But I will continue with a backpiece of the dying Shi Jin( also known as Kyumonryu) and six other Dragons.
But I would never discuss wether I get it inked or not, cause it is to personal.
Back to topic.
I guess it is not hisfault that an anime uses the same phrase, or isnｴt it?
He knows something about the historical background, and he likes what it means to him, that should be enough.
Go out and ink these letters, but not because you heard enough arguments, you should ink it cause it was your idea to do it.
Keep on inkinｴ
 
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Assuming that he'd ever want to go over to japan with that tattooed on his wrist he might be looked down upon or not allowed into a hot spring. I say if you want a tattoo get it, I got the kanji for tiger tattooed on me, but i've wanted it since I was really little and got it once I turned 18 and it's in a place that it can't be seen, but over in japan tattoo's are usually associated with the Yakuza.

Seeing how old this topic actually is I wonder if he actually got it tattooed on his wrist
 
Wow, every time I peek back in to see how JRef is doing, I get more and more discouraged. It seems to be hitting a new low every time.

So, the latest fad is reviving very old "What the @#$% is wrong with you?" posts, the latest being of some kid who thinks it is cool to get a tattoo of some kanji from a cartoon he saw on cable. Added on to this, the thread gets revived then we get someone posting about "the way of the warrior" after he read some books on it, and seems emphatically states that if he understands "the way" he doesn't need to ask any questions on anything he does. I have to applaude Yukio's post on this one.

Holy crap, a new low for this board. Please... this is to anyone in Japan. Don't judge EVERYONE in America from this board. Just take it as a sign that people like those posting here DO exist and to be careful.
 
First I want to start out by saying..WOW..I'm sort of amazed by some of the comments on here..yes the saying is used in the anime Rurouni Kenshin..so for 90% of the people that have posted on this thread..it means its totally untrue or just some anime phrase that this guy is lookin to tattoo on his body. So let me say this, you all realize the Meiji Restoration was also in the anime?! Does that mean its just some fictional event with no meaning?! God, and here I thought that was a huge piece of great Japanese history..
Another amazing fact..Hajime Saito was a real person..who they based their fictional character (Saito) on in Rurouni Kenshin.
But heres the thing, if you want a tattoo because you like it, or what it stands for..then get it, I can't give you a great artist, or even tell you what the phrase looks like in Japanese..but I just thought I would comment on how some of these comments are just absolutely stupid..
The phrase was believed by alot of extremists in Japan in the 19th century. It was lived to an EXTREME extent by many people before the time of the Meiji Restoration as well as during. Especially in the early times of Religious Missionaries and converts.
 
I wonder why people feel the "need" to wear their "ideologies" or their "philosophies" on their shoulders...Truthfully, this kind of "tribute" disgusts me. As a genuine Anarchist, I've grown to despise the countless drones of pre-pubescent trendies who wear the symbols on their close or Sharpie them on their hands simply because they'll fit in much easier with the crowd or it pisses their parents off.

I can see the arguments people are making on both sides. The philosophy that evil must be eradicated at the source is a necessity, especially in times as turbulent as these. However, at least some extent of competence in Japanese culture is a must before doing something as profound, and possibly permanent, as getting a tattoo. If you ask me, if you really do truly embrace the idea that evil must be slain at the source then start practicing it rather than wear it on your shoulder like another ignorant, hive-minded trendie. That's all I'm saying.
 
yukio_michael said:
Okay, So how about some advice for people who live on planet Earth?
Click to expand...

I've got a piece of advice for you:

Contribute constructively to a conversation or get lost. Of course, there are millions upon millions of trolls who appeared on the internet in the past few years that the concept of respect and competent conversation escapes them. I make no apologies, however, you should have considered all angles before even posting on the thread.
 

And I don't believe people will give you any credibility considering how quickly you disregard any philosophical potential, regardless of the source. Also, I don't believe anyone said the phrase "Aku Soku Zan" was coined by Musashi - or anyone else for that matter. Clearly you didn't process enough of the discussion to conjure a coherent post.
 
tokyofarang said:
do you mean these characters?
ﾋ?ｫ窶伉ｬﾅｽEﾂ
Click to expand...

He last visited us in August of 2004. Don't hold your breath waiting for him to reply.
 
I know, I just replied to see what reaction I got. I do nto see why people were so upset and would nto repky at the time - other than hate - which is purely a wasted past-time.
 
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