Hanabira

Hanabira (花弁) is a form of scarification originating in Japan. It involves the decorative scarring of the mons pubis. The term means petal in Japanese language and refers to the commons floral patterns of traditional monshō.

Background

The Hanabira scarification was first introduced in the Japanese body modification culture but has recently become popular in western countries. While the emblem can be a very personal sign and identity symbol in Japan, the western adoption in usually done for purely aestetical reasons.

Style

The form of the scar is often inspired by traditional monshō (紋章) or mondokoro (紋所), decorative emblems or symbols that identify a person and are unique for that individual or its family. Most monshōs are monochrome and show the stylized representation of a plant, oftentimes floral elements, or an animal in an edged circle. (see: Gallery of representative kamon «monshō» by theme) Hanabira may also take the form of stylized Kanji (漢字).

Method

The desired patterns or lettering are cut into the skin with a scalpel. To keep the incisions from simply growing together, wound healing is intentionally delayed so that a visible scar develops after some time.

See also

• Chinese calligraphy tattoos
• Pe'a
• Genital tattooing
• Christina piercing