The History of Chinese Tattoo

The Origin of Chinese Tattoos Some information sources suggests that tattooing in China started from 2000 B.C. However, according to some archaeological evidence, the origination of Chinese tattoos can be earlier than that. The earliest record of the existence of tattoos in China was found in an archaeological site in Lienyungang, where archaeologists discovered some ancient pictures, which were estimated to have existed in the "Chinese Neolithic Age", roughly about 5500 years ago. By surprise, experts found the people's bodies appearing in these ancient paintings were covered with symbol tattoos. Over 4 thousand years ago, in the Chinese Shang Dynasty, some primitive clans in Southern China began to use tattoos to worship their Gods and spiritual things. The Chinese official society disapproved of that kind of behavior and officially regarded tattooing as part of anti-social behavior. Years later in the Chou dynasty (about 2500 years ago), the government officials began to adopt "Tattooing people's face" as a kind of torturing punishment for criminal offenders.

Tattoo Culture in Ancient Chinese Society About 1000 years ago, in the Chinese Tang dynasty, the government even thought of tattoos as a threatening sign against the society, as any emperor of a tyrannical dynasty didn’t want to see too many people involved in self-organized associations, but tattoo was just a kind of personal ID for members of some gangs or clans. In those days, in the city of Xian, which is located in the western China, it was once very popular for local young men to adopt tattoos to express themselves. This was a worrying sign to the local government. The local officials worried that the tattooed young chaps would organize one day to challenge the government's authority. So they arrested over 3000 local young men for having tattoos and sentenced them to death. One man called "Wong Li Nu (王力奴)" was particularly innocent. His body was fully covered with tattoos of the beautiful scenery, flower-and-bird and other Chinese symbol characters. However, these artistic Chinese tattoos became the evidence to get him executed immediately.

Tattoos in Ancient Chinese Society It was about 2500 years ago that Chinese immigrants first brought tattoos to Japan. The tattoo design soon became a kind of highly respected art in Japan. Its specific pattern, designing methods and artistic features soon won the favor of Japanese people. Later, tattoo designing was brought to the Malay-peninsula and Indonesia, where the British encountered it for the first time in 1771. Then British adventurers introduced the tattoo design back to Europe and afterwards tattoo design began to make its appearance in America.

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