Kishobori

In Japan, between the 17th and 18th centuries, The practice of irebokuro in the pleasure quarters.

Irebokuro are tattoos of black dots made as a symbol of sentimental bonding. Eventually the practice spread throughout the country, even among the upper classes. 

The polka dots were giving way to more elaborate shapes, such as words or names and have become known as kishoboriwhich means "tattoo offering" o "tattooed oath".

In addition to a promise of fidelity or love between two people, a kishobori could be a prayer or an oath dedicated to the gods. It could also be a promise that the individual made to himself. 

Bibliography

• https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horimono_(tatuaje)#Tatuaje_penal_o_irezumi
• Moriarty, Yori. (2015) : Irezumi Itai. Traditional Japanese Tattoo. Gijón, Satori Ediciones.
• Pinheiro Maués, Juliana (2019): Bravos citadinos: estudo das representações da tatuagem em estampas de ator do kabuki by Utagawa Kunisada. Repository of Unicamp's scientific and intellectual production.