The mysterious Okinawan cultural practice of Hajichi. Once carved into the hands of women, what did these patterns mean, and why have they now disappeared?
This article will explore the origins, background, and connection of “Hajichi,” Okinawa’s traditional tattooing culture, to the present day. We’ll also consider how we can confront the loss of this culture.
Hajichi: The Phantom Custom of the Ryukyu Kingdom Era
As its name suggests, Hajichi was a traditional practice in the Ryukyu Kingdom where women’s hands and arms were tattooed using a tool with several needles bundled together.
In valuable historical documents that depict the daily life of Okinawa at the time, we can see the Hajichi patterns of many women—patterns that included circles, triangles, and diamonds.
As a custom seen only on the hands of women (never men), with patterns that differed by region, Hajichi is now regarded as a phantom practice. It is drawing renewed attention as a mysterious traditional culture, imbued with the sentiments of the women who wore it.
A Unique Style Rooted in Ryukyu
Hajichi was carved into the hands of women in various regions of the Ryukyu era, from the Amami Islands in present-day Kagoshima Prefecture to Yonaguni Island at the westernmost tip of Okinawa. The practice was reserved for women, with no similar tattoos seen on men.
Hajichi Applied According to Age and Life Stages
While there were many variations, the first Hajichi was often applied around the age of seven or eight, with a small oval pattern carved at the base of the middle and ring fingers. Later, at around 17 or 18, the pattern would be expanded toward the fingertips into an arrowhead shape. Upon marriage, the pattern was completed with circles or a star pattern (Ichichibushi) on the back of the hand.
Although the patterns and timing for applying Hajichi varied by region and era, they were essentially applied on the wrist and back of the hand as a sign of adulthood.
After the procedure, it was customary for relatives and friends to visit and congratulate the woman on becoming a full-fledged adult. When visitors saw the Hajichi, it was considered polite to praise its beauty.
A Traditional Culture Inherited from Ancient Ryukyu
The origin of Hajichi is not clear as no records remain. However, historical documents dating as far back as 1534, such as the Chen Kan Shi Roku written by a Chinese envoy, mention tattoos of flowers, grasses, birds, and beasts on the hands of Ryukyuan women.
The fact that the patterns did not contain any characters suggests that Hajichi is a practice that has been passed down since a time before a written language was widely used in Ryukyu.
The Sentiments Carved into Women’s Hands
Hajichi was imbued with a variety of meanings, including warding off evil, serving as a symbol of marriage or adulthood, and expressing a desire for the Pure Land.
There are stories of Hajichi patterns being drawn with a brush on the hands of women who passed away without having been tattooed, before they were placed in the coffin. This shows that Hajichi was considered an eternal symbol of faith that connects this life and the next.
Hajichi Carved to Prevent Being Abducted to “Yamato”
An interesting idea is that Hajichi was also used to “prevent being abducted to Yamato” (mainland Japan, outside the Ryukyu Kingdom). According to one legend, a Ryukyuan princess was abducted by a lord from Yamato. When she saw the Hajichi carved on her hand, the lord was so surprised that he returned her to Ryukyu.
This practice was not simply meant to remove beauty. It was an expression of the women’s prayer and pride, a symbol of their identity as people of the Ryukyu Kingdom.
The Strong Sentiments for Hajichi Apparent in Songs
Songs from the Ryukyu era also reveal the strong feelings that women had for Hajichi. The lyrics of some songs go like this: “A husband is only for a while, a wife is only for a while, but a Hajichi is for life.” Another popular song says, “You can have all the money in the world, but you can’t take it to the afterlife; the Hajichi on my hand will go with me.”
Passing on the Lost Sentiments of Hajichi to the Present
Unfortunately, it is no longer possible to see living Hajichi in modern Okinawa.
In 1899, the Japanese government of the Meiji era issued a ban on Hajichi, viewing it as a “barbaric custom” in its efforts to assimilate Okinawa into Japan. The Hajichi culture, which was deeply rooted in Okinawa, continued in secret for a time, but as regulations became stricter, it gradually disappeared.
Attempts to Pass Down the Hajichi Culture to the Next Generation
In the late 1970s, to pass down the Hajichi culture to the next generation, local education committees in Okinawa Prefecture created survey reports on Hajichi in their respective regions. By that time, there were very few surviving Hajichi bearers, but valuable interviews from that period remain, allowing us to reflect on the lost traditional culture.
The Movement to Revive Hajichi in Modern Okinawa
In modern Okinawa, there are movements to revive Hajichi as a symbol of Okinawan women’s identity and culture. The number of young tattoo artists who apply Hajichi is also increasing.
The Hajichi once carved into the hands of Ryukyuan women has stood the test of time, reviving its sentiments and proud identity in modern Okinawa and becoming an icon that connects to a new Okinawa.
eferences
- Ichikawa, S. (1983). Nan-tō Hajichi Kikō: Okinawa Fujin no Irezumi o Miru [A Travelogue of Southern Island Tattoos: Looking at the Tattoos of Okinawan Women]. Naha Shuppansha.
- Ie Village Board of Education, Okinawa Prefecture. (1978). Ie-jima no Hajichi Chōsa Hōkoku [Report on the Hajichi Survey of Ie Island].
- Nakama, G. (1985). Nan-tō Irezumi Shūzoku no Kenkyū [A Study of Southern Island Tattoo Customs].
- Ohara, K. (1962). Nan-tō Irezumi Kō [A Study of Southern Island Tattoos]. Chikuma Shobō.
- Itoman City Board of Education. (1982). Itoman-shi no Hajichi: Hajichi Chōsa Hōkokusho [Report on the Hajichi Survey of Itoman City].
