Buddha tattoos are quite the talk of the town, but we’re here to help you decide whether that’s the route you want to take for your next ink. While Buddha tattoos represent peace, purity of life, and devotion, we do need to underline that they’re oftentimes deemed blasphemous, too.
Whether you’re thinking of getting a tiny Buddha tattoo on your wrist or a statement work of art across your back, you might want to take some time to think. Budhha tattoos are a beautiful way to celebrate your appreciation for the Buddhist practice, but they’re not the type of tattoo motif you want to mess with. With that out of the way, we’re bringing you a few of our favorite Buddha tattoos to get you started.
1. A duck Buddha tattoo on the upper arm
Why wouldn’t you want to get a tattoo of a cute Buddhist duck, right? Whether you’re a fan of tattoos that make you think or you simply want to amplify or completely change the meaning of your tattoo, you can go with a duck Buddha.
2. A black and gray Buddha tattoo on the upper arm
Black and gray tattoos are always a good choice to go with because they’re timeless and effortless. Whether you’re a fan of the look or you can’t see yourself rocking a colored Buddha tattoo, you might want to opt for a black and gray tattoo instead.
3. A Buddha tattoo on the leg
When picking the perfect placement for your tattoo, make sure you consider the amount of real estate you need to execute your design. If you’re going with a bigger, bolder piece with lots of details, you might want to go with a leg tattoo, a thigh tattoo, or a back tattoo.
4. A Buddha tattoo with a lotus flower on the forearm
Buddha tattoos can be embellished with numerous elements that work well with the overall design of the tattoo. Ornaments, mandalas, and lotus flowers seem to be the most common tattoo motifs that accompany Buddha tattoos, but that’s up to you to decide.
5. A Buddha tattoo with watercolor details
A Buddha tattoo with watercolor details, for example, will attract attention and turn heads for sure. Watercolor tattoos are whimsical and vibrant, and they’re a great way for you to add a little bit of spice to a tattoo that consists of clean lines and a simple design.
6. A colored Buddha tattoo on the upper arm
While we’re on the topic of colors, we might as well talk about colored Buddha tattoos. Colored tattoos require more time, effort, and energy, but they’re typically more eye-catching, too. Contrary to popular belief, colored tattoos are on-trend.
7. A Buddha tattoo on the forearm
What about a Buddha tattoo on the forearm? Whether you’re going for a sleeve or embellishing your forearms with different tattoos, you truly can’t go wrong with everyone’s favorite tattoo placement.
8. A brushstroke Buddha tattoo
Brushstroke tattoos are quite a new concept, but they’re getting more and more popular. With the rise of abstract tattoos, we’ve seen both first-timers and seasoned tattoo-getters opting for brushstroke tattoos. With this style, the tattoo artist mimics the appearance of brush strokes with whatever design you opt for.
9. A blue Buddha tattoo
We already mentioned that black and gray tattoos are timeless, but what about other colors? Whether you’re a fan of red ink, blue ink, or even rainbow ink, nothing is stopping you from experimenting with different colors and making your Buddha tattoo fit your aesthetic to a tee.
10. A mandala Buddha tattoo
A mandala tattoo sounds great, right? Whether or not you’re a fan of ornamental and mandala tattoos, you can’t deny that these shapes and symbols work wonderfully with Buddha tattoos. Whatever you do, make sure you come up with a cohesive design, though.
11. A geometric Buddha tattoo
We can say the same thing about geometric tattoos! Geometric tattoos typically consist of lines, circles, squares, and triangles that make up mysterious, detailed designs. Geometric tattoos work wonderfully with Buddha tattoos because they represent the same thing – unity, stability, and strength.
12. A Buddha quarter-sleeve tattoo
What about a Buddha sleeve tattoo? When you’re adamant about showing your affection for all things Buddhism, you might want to get a Buddha tattoo that represents everything you stand for – and you can’t do that with a minimalist tattoo.
13. A beautiful Buddha tattoo on the hand
Minimalist tattoos can make quite a statement, too. With a Buddha tattoo on your hand, you can send a message to the rest of the world that you’re dedicated to your religion and that you’re devoting your life to doing good.
14. A tattoo of three wise Buddhas
We’re obsessed with this tattoo, too! The three Buddhas depicted in traditional Chinese temple halls are Gautama Buddha (Shakyamuni), Bhaisajyaguru Buddha, and Amitabha Buddha, and they portray the famous proverb that says “see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil.”
15. A Buddha tattoo on the neck
A Buddha tattoo on the neck? Absolutely!
While neck tattoos can be on the smaller side, you can always come up with a design that allows you to stretch the tattoo across your back, too. Work with your tattoo artist and come up with a tattoo you’ll adore.
16. A micro-realism Buddha tattoo
We’ve got another geometric tattoo coming your way! With this one, however, the emphasis is on the micro-realistic Buddha sitting in the middle of the design. Micro-realistic tattoos are smaller tattoos made with lots of details, capturing everything from fine lines to intricate shading.
17. A brilliant Buddha tattoo on the upper arm
What about a Buddha tattoo on the upper arm? Upper arm tattoos are some of the most popular, prominent tattoo placements, and they’re a great starting point when you’re thinking of getting your first tattoo. We’d start with something smaller and simpler, though.
18. A Buddha tattoo on the back of the leg
A back-of-the-leg tattoo might not be at the top of your priority list, but we’re in love with the design and the placement of this tattoo! After all, it’s made to move with your body and it’s guaranteed to make you look like an experienced body art enthusiast.
19. A Buddha, lotus flower, and pagoda tattoo
We can’t deny that this tattoo packs a punch, too! It contains all the elements that represent peace, purity, resilience, rebirth, and beauty. It’s a great way for you to celebrate all things Buddhism without going for a full sleeve.
20. A Buddha tattoo on the back of the arm
A back-of-the-arm tattoo might be the one for you, too! After all, back-of-the-arm tattoos are perfect because you can easily conceal or reveal them, depending on your personal preferences.
21. A Buddha chest tattoo
A chest tattoo, on the other hand, might be a bigger commitment. Whether you wear tank tops or V-neck shirts, chest tattoos s can make you look cooler than you really are. What do you think?
22. A tiny Buddha tattoo on the arm
When you’re figuring out whether you’re a tattoo person or not, you might want to stick with tiny tattoos. A tiny Buddha tattoo might not be a grand gesture, but that doesn’t mean that a smaller, simpler piece doesn’t pack a punch, too.
23. A fine-line Buddha tattoo
We’re ending the article with a fine-line Buddha tattoo! A fine-line tattoo will make you feel like you’re on top of trends, whether or not that’s something you’re concerned with. With fine-line tattoos, you get a softer, more subtle work of art rather than a blob of black ink.
