Buddhism uses a system of symbols that echoes and reinforces its basic tenets.The Buddha himself discouraged the use of images but over the centuries a variety of forms have entered Buddhist iconography, including the Buddha himself.
Buddhist themed tattoo designs are an ever growing group as is the list of symbols that typically gets used: Bo Tree, the Buddha, a Dharma Wheel, a Kalachakra, a Lotus, a Mala, a Mandala, Om, Om Mane Padme Hum, a Stupa, a Vajra, and protective scripts written in traditional calligraphy, to name a few.
Because Buddhism has so many different forms worldwide, there is no one viewpoint that can be said to reflect the opinion of Buddhism, at large, on tattooing.
Traditional Buddhist Tattoos Pictures
