Like we stated above, the enso might be closed or open. In the case where the symbol is open, it allows for development and movement in addition to leaving room for perfection. People that practice Zen can relate to the idea of wabi-sabi or in other words, the beauty in not being perfect. On the other hand, when the enso symbol is drawn or tattooed as closed, it might represent perfection. This is similar to the perfect form of Plato. It was the reason a circle was being used in the construction of cosmological models for centuries.

Drawing the enso is different than tattooing it but the image should look like it was painted on with a brush. When drawing it, you will see the enso drawn in one stroke of the brush. When drawing within the rules of Japanese calligraphy, when drawing the enso, you should do it swiftly. Once it is drawn, you do not change which means every enso will have slight differences and this coincides with the idea of imperfection.

Enso Tattoo Meaning

Enso means “circle” in Japanese. The concept of this image is tied very closely to Zen practices. In Japanese calligraphy, it is one of the most common subjects and this applies even though the enso is not a character.

The enso tattoo symbolizes strength, enlightenment, infinity, the universe, the void and elegance. It is also known to represent the Japanese aesthetic in itself. This tattoo or drawing is often considered a type of minimalist art and an “expression of movement”. It is a simple and clean tattoo that has a very powerful meaning.

In it’s most broad sense, the enso tattoo meaning is tied in with the qualities of the universe. It conjures up its limitless power, grandness and natural phenomena. It can also symbolize the void and the essential state in which all dualities and distinctions are taken away.