lotus tattooChinese line art
A lotus tattoo is a flower drawn with layered pointed petals rising from a water line, and in Chinese and Buddhist tradition it represents purity and enlightenment because the flower grows out of mud and stays unstained. The number of petals is the main stylistic variable, commonly eight or sixteen.
Size guide
Single lotus: 4–8 cm (8 petals). Large lotus: 10–15 cm (16+ petals). Lotus with water line: add 2–3 cm below.
How many petals should a lotus have?
Eight petals is the most common general choice and suits a 5 to 8 cm design. Sixteen petals suits 10 to 15 cm and reads more symmetrical when viewed from a distance. Petal counts above twenty fill in at small sizes, so increase the overall size rather than the petal count when you want more detail.
What does a lotus tattoo mean?
In Chinese and Buddhist tradition a lotus represents purity, enlightenment and spiritual awakening, because it rises clean from muddy water. In modern secular use it is often chosen simply as an aesthetically balanced flower. The traditional meaning is the more common reason the symbol is chosen outside Asia.
Frequently asked questions
Where to place a lotus tattoo
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