![Top 85 Best Ronin Tattoo Ideas – [2022 Inspiration Guide]](https://nextluxury.com/wp-content/uploads/Japanese-Ronin-Tattoo-@koji_soul_tattoo.jpg)
Top 85 Best Ronin Tattoo Ideas – [2022 Inspiration Guide]
The ronin samurai warrior is a romanticized tattoo subject, often portrayed as the Japanese equivalent of Clint Eastwood.
Ronin were masterless samurai either disenfranchised by the death of their master or through their leader’s loss of favor and privilege. In the rigid class system of feudal Japan, most Samurai lords who lost honor for their houses committed seppuku (ritual suicide).
Those unwanted samurai left behind, unable or unwilling to serve a new master, took their katana on the road to eke out a living as mercenaries, or swaggered about as vagabonds and bullies.
The following 85 tattoo ideas show off an awesome array of ronin tattoo designs and concepts, while toward the end of the gallery there’s some useful FAQ questions about samurai which can help you decide on a theme for a new tattoo.
1. Black and Gray Ronin Ink
Source: @mich_michelemor via Instagram
Source: @lamouturetattoo via Instagram
Source: @purp_ink via Instagram
Source: @ciki_blackdahlia_ via Instagram
Source: @zika_del_vaz via Instagram
Source: @bastetinkplovdiv via Instagram
Source: @darktatt via Instagram
2. Ronin Arm Tattoo Art
Source: @gasoline_ink via Instagram
Source: @joazis via Instagram
Source: @lipsis.tattoo via Instagram
Source: @piromantattoo via Instagram
Source: @sa.danny_art via Instagram
Source: @splashback.ink via Instagram
Source: @taras.prystupa_tattoo via Instagram
Source: @taras.prystupa_tattoo via Instagram
Source: @zioribo via Instagram
4. Ronin Back Tattoo Ideas
Source: @bendot_thelifeinkbali via Instagram
Source: @hieu_tran_ink via Instagram
Source: @kristiantattoo via Instagram
Source: @marcobratt via Instagram
Source: @nik_you_21 via Instagram
Source: @thetanktattooartist via Instagram
5. Full Sleeve Ink
Source: @ancientarthampton via Instagram
Source: @carloseduardoruiz via Instagram
Source: @ronnie_rubio_ttc via Instagram
Source: @ketut_donny_lesmana_putra via Instagram
Source: @metal_pirate via Instagram
6. Japanese Traditional Body Art Design
Source: @koji_soul_tattoo via Instagram
Source: @laurentolsenvachon via Instagram
Source: @marco_freakshowtattoo via Instagram
Source: @putu_sendika via Instagram
Source: @sbizit via Instagram
Source: @tabby_actual via Instagram
Source: @tattookadeh via Instagram
Source: @troy_nelson_ronin via Instagram
7. Ronin Leg Tattoo Concepts
Source: @chrischavers via Instagram
Source: @chrischavers via Instagram
Source: @fame_tattoo_ via Instagram
Source: @ivan.apostolov via Instagram
Source: @jellyfish_tattoo via Instagram
Source: @la_wizarderie via Instagram
Source: @la_wizarderie via Instagram
Source: @phowlstabs via Instagram
Source: @putu_sendika via Instagram
Source: @sietosss_tattoo via Instagram
Source: @song_tattoos via Instagram
Source: @sonneetattoo via Instagram
8. Oni Masked Ronin Tattoos
Source: @_andrey_vidyakin_ via Instagram
Source: @angeliedemonitattoo via Instagram
Source: @benkbenk_hergia via Instagram
Source: @bradbull_ via Instagram
Source: @danielbrtgarcia via Instagram
Source: @frank_fanti via Instagram
Source: @mattrodriguesink via Instagram
Source: @micogeologotattoo via Instagram
Source: @romo_79 via Instagram
Source: @taraschornyi via Instagram
Source: @thisonkomang_tattoo via Instagram
Source: @vtattoozero via Instagram
9. Upper Arm and Shoulder Ronin Tattoos
Source: @dillicenul via Instagram
Source: @ditattoostudio via Instagram
Source: @elixirtattoo_corbetta via Instagram
Source: @isaac51lemus via Instagram
Source: @ketut_donny_lesmana_putra via Instagram
Source: @mazatattoo via Instagram
Source: @mich_michelemor via Instagram
Source: @ruizaereo via Instagram
10. Skull
Source: @bastartattoo.ru via Instagram
Source: @dannywalshtattoos via Instagram
Source: @darksister.tattoo via Instagram
Source: @diego_tatt2 via Instagram
Source: @donttellmama_tattoo via Instagram
Source: @evgeni.evlogiev via Instagram
Source: @jayveegarcia015 via Instagram
Source: @nathannahui via Instagram
Source: @rocktattoo_jombang via Instagram
Source: @troy_nelson_ronin via Instagram
11. Black and Red Ronin Ink
Source: @dragonflymartin via Instagram
Source: @cavictattooland via Instagram
Source: @koji_soul_tattoo via Instagram
Source: @whitey.james via Instagram
Source: @taras.prystupa_tattoo via Instagram
Source: @taras.prystupa_tattoo via Instagram
Source: @sonstattoo via Instagram
Source: @wangchinmao via Instagram
Ronin Tattoo FAQs
What do Ronin tattoos symbolize?
The Japanese word rounin (ronin in English), is a combination of two kanji that when combined mean wandering person or drifter. Ronin were masterless samurai featured in popular crossover tales such as Musashi and the 47 Ronin.
Ronin strike a chord with tattoo enthusiasts who still identify as loners, drifters, and outcasts, like the Spaghetti Western version of Clint Eastwood back in the 1970s.
What is the difference between Ronin and Samurai?
Samurai were the aristocratic class of soldier that fought for their clan Lord and household.
When a Lord lost his life or was embarrassed and committed seppuku, these Samurai were expected to atone by also taking their life as recompense.
Those who didn’t became masterless Samurai known as Ronin, who were generally shunned by their own class and became mercenaries, vagabonds, and sometimes criminals.
What do Japanese Samurai and Ronin Mask tattoos symbolize?
The Japanese word Oni means demon. Oni Mask tattoos are often deployed in samurai and ronin body art because to an Oni mask was to have succumbed to your base nature and abandoned the noble ideals of the Samurai.
As ronin were disenfranchised samurai, debased from their original station and shunned by previous equals, taking up an oni mask or helmet was a sign of submission but also a reflection of their outsider status.
Did you enjoy these ronin tattoo designs? Click on the links below for more Japanese inspired tattoo art:
