Irezumi (???; ??; ??; ??; ??; ? or ??) is a Japanese word that refers to the insertion of ink under the skin to leave a permanent; usually decorative mark; a form of tattooing.

The word can be written in several ways; each with slightly different connotations. The most common way of writing irezumi is with the Chinese characters ??? or ??; literally meaning to 'insert ink'. The characters ?? (also pronounced bunshin) suggest 'decorating the body'. ?? is more esoteric; being written with the characters for 'stay' or 'remain' and 'blue' or 'green'; and probably refers to the appearance of the main shading ink under the skin. ? (meaning 'tattooing') is rarely used; and the characters ?? combine the meanings 'pierce'; 'stab'; or 'prick'; and 'blue' or 'green'; referring to the traditional Japanese method of tattooing by hand. Pictures From History