Kinbaku Skull

There is actually a more in-depth meaning to the skull tattoo designs than just anger, fear, danger or death... in fact it was not originally conceived as a symbol to represent any of these things.  It was instead originally used to represent the symbol of  “great change” and “celebration of a great life”.  In analyzing what the skull traditionally meant in ancient society we discover that it was related to the happening of great changes and an acceptance and embrace of  our mortality “embracing the new”.  The skull is a symbol used to celebrate and show respect for people who have passed.   It’s highly probable that it’s association with death grew because of the fact that death is the greatest change that we will experience. "Kinbaku", as an erotic tying art, is based on fairly specific rope patterns mostly derived from Hojojutsu ties. Hojojutsu is the Japanese martial art of restraining a person using cord or rope. Encompassing many different materials, techniques and methods from many different schools, Hojojutsu is a quintessentially Japanese art that is a unique product of Japanese martial history and culture.

Essentially this tattoo can easily represent a change from repressive constraints.