Hannya is one of Japan's traditional designs. It has been a very popular design from ancient times to the present day, and you've probably seen it somewhere, not just in tattoos.
What is Hannya?
In Buddhism, "Hannya" refers to the wisdom (enlightenment) obtained by those who have overcome severe ascetic practices and reached a certain state of mind and body, and originally it was a word that represented something truly wonderful.
However, Hannya also has another meaning: as its appearance suggests, it refers to the terrifying demon mask, which is called "Hannya no Men" (Hannya mask) and is often simply referred to as Hannya. In tattoos, it is often depicted as a symbol of this Hannya mask, rather than enlightenment.
It is characterized by a terrifying face with horns and sharp fangs depicted at the top and bottom of the mouth. Although it looks like a male face, it is actually based on the face of a woman who has become a demon out of indignation from jealousy and resentment. It is said that the woman, betrayed and driven mad by jealousy, later transformed into a snake. When emotional pain turns into resentment, women are said to lose themselves and transform into Hannya.
Differences between Hannya and Oni
The difference between Hannya and Oni is that while the Oni mask represents a male demon, the Hannya mask depicts a female demon in Japanese folklore. Oni are evil beings who have become guardians of hell. In contrast, Hannya represents an indignant woman, which is why it is often expressed in tattoos through various colors, and the meaning differs depending on the color. For example, white Hannya represents nobility, red represents lower-class people or evil, and black or very dark shades signify transformation into a demon.
There are various theories about Hannya, but it is said to be based on a woman who became enraged after being cheated on, as depicted in The Tale of Genji. From the Genji era to the present day, Hannya has been a popular design in traditional style for a long time.
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