Horimono (彫り物, 彫物, literally carving, engraving), also known as chōkoku (彫刻, "sculpture"), are the engraved images in the blade of a nihonto (日本刀) Japanese sword, which may include katanaortantō blades.[1] The artist is called a chōkokushi (彫刻師), or a horimonoshi (彫物師, "engraver"). There are a variety of designs, which include tsume (爪) "claws", kusa kurikara (草倶利伽羅) (Arabesque style), Munenagabori (created in Munenaga), renge (蓮華) (lotus blossom) and rendai (蓮台) (lotus pedestal), fruit, dragons, and many others.
Horimono can also refer to the practice of traditional tattooing in Japanese culture; while irezumi usually refers to any tattooing (and often has negative connotations in Japan), "horimono" is usually used to describe full-body tattoos done in the traditional style.[2] In some cases, these tattoos can cover the whole body, including the arms and legs.
This type of tattoo is traditionally done using a tebori (手彫り) - an instrument constructed of a bundle of needles affixed to a bamboo rod. Public knowledge on this style of tattooing is limited, and one must enter an apprenticeship under a master in order to learn.[3]
|
Japanese weapons, armour and equipment
| |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swords |
| ||||
| Knives and daggers |
| ||||
| Polearms and spears |
| ||||
| Practice weapons |
| ||||
| Armour |
| ||||
| Clothing |
| ||||
| Samurai accoutrements |
| ||||
| Chain and rope weapons |
| ||||
| Clubs and truncheons |
| ||||
| Staff weapons |
| ||||
| Projectile and throwing weapons |
| ||||
| Firearms and guns |
| ||||
| Improvised and other weapons |
| ||||
| Signal devices |
| ||||
| Users |
| ||||
| |||||
|
Tattoos and tattooing
| |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topics |
| ||||||||||||||||
| Types |
| ||||||||||||||||
| Process and technique |
| ||||||||||||||||
| Traditions and practices |
| ||||||||||||||||
| Styles and designs |
| ||||||||||||||||
| Bodily location |
| ||||||||||||||||
| Legal status in... |
| ||||||||||||||||
 | This article about the military of Japan is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This article relating to swords is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
