The Tattoo Encyclopedia by Terisa Green

Author:Terisa Green
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Touchstone
Published: 2003-01-26T16:00:00+00:00

JIGGS

Cartoon characters are an exceedingly popular part of tattoo art and include everything from the Tasmanian Devil to the Cat in the Hat. But cartoon characters in tattoos are not new and while some have incredible staying power (BETTY BOOP, for example), others have faded away. Jiggs is an example of the latter. A cartoon that debuted in 1913, Maggie and Jiggs (or Bringing Up Father) was about a rags-to-riches pair of Irish immigrants who never quite escaped their lowly upbringing despite their windfall wealth. The nearly bald Jiggs, with his short CIGAR, diminutive mustache, and “Orphan Annie” eyes, was a character in tattoo art that spoke of something lucky and wealthy, and yet yearning for the simple life, even at the cost of being harassed by his social-climbing wife.

JOHN 13:35

This biblical citation of BOOK, chapter, and verse is a sort of “shorthand” in Christian symbolism that crosses over well to tattoo art. Where the entire verse might seem too long for a tattoo, or too much text to be attractive, the citation gets the message across to people in the know. It might even inspire a question to be asked. And in answer to that question: John 13:35 reads “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

JOHN 3:16

As in the previous example, this biblical citation is a shorthand way of conveying the message of the verse. This citation is probably the most popular of its type. John 3:16 states that “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

JOKER

The joker is like symbols such as the CLOWN, the JESTER, and the FOOL. The joker is, of course, also associated with a deck of playing CARDS, with two jokers in a deck. Their appearance resembles that of the court jester but their function resembles more that of the FOOL of TAROT CARDS. The jokers stand outside the main deck of fifty-two cards. They are sometimes used in card play, and sometimes not. When used in a game, they generally have special properties not granted to any of the other cards. It is also not unusual for the joker card to be used as a sort of visual pun to indicate that the tattoo wearer might be something of a “joker” him or herself.

JUROJIN

Jurojin is one of the SEVEN GODS OF GOOD FORTUNE in Japanese mythology and a popular symbol in Japanese tattoo art, though he is usually shown with his companions, the other six gods. Jurojin is the god of longevity, shown as an ancient bearded man, sometimes confused with FUKUROKUJU, who is also associated with longevity but also wisdom and sometimes wealth. Jurojin generally carries a tall staff to which is attached a SCROLL, or he might also wear a scholar’s headdress and is sometimes accompanied by a STAG, a symbol of longevity in both Japan and China.

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