Tattoo Design In Cultural History

by: StevenMcCarthy
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The tattoo design has certainly come a long way since the first human marked his or her body for a ritual. Many of the early markings were to distinguish between clans or tribes but have since evolved into a pop cultural phenomenon. Soccer mom's sporting tattoos on their ankles and teenagers eagerly marking their body to show their transcendence from childhood into adulthood.

Japan's history of tattooing goes back to 10000 B.C.E. to 300 B.C.E. It was often used for healing, and even identifying a soldier should he perish on the battlefield and be stripped of his armor also to identify rites of passage for certain tribes. Perhaps the most familiar of Japanese body art is associated with the organized crime group the Yakuza. Much like the Italian Mafia, the Yakuza have long been affiliated with less than desirable elements of society. Anything from illegal gambling to racketeering is within its grasp.

The body would be decorated with a series of lines and symbols telling a story. Anyone not aware of the subtle meaning would simple find the designs beautiful. The significance of tattooing the bride is such that as long as she is still wearing the dye, she is still honeymooning and is not expected to perform chores.

Tattoo's signifying power or lack of is not the sole property of China or Japan. In Russia a tattoo design can be a calling card of that person's life choices. If the person is a murderer, his or her tattoos will show this to the world and everyone will know. If a person is an informant or has lied about a deed, he or she may be forcefully tattooed to show their mistakes to the world.

For many the art tattoo represents a wilder side to their personality. Perhaps a bit of rebellion against the expected norms of a more staid and traditional society that looks upon a tattoo with wariness as the stigma associated with the art tattoo is not as widely spread to the more conservative. There are other individuals who use the tattoo as a means of remembrance for fallen family and friends or as a spiritual guide for their lives.

The tattoo design in Russia's history was not just limited to the criminal element. Sometimes the only way to rebel in an oppressive government was to design a derogatory tattoo of the local political tyrants. This was the only alternative to express your opinion in parts of the world where freedom of speech and press was not allowed.

A great suggestion when looking for a good place to get your tattoos and piercing's is to do a online search to check if there have been any lawsuits filed against the artist. When shop owners start getting careless customers are at risk and lawsuits begin. There was a lawsuit brought against a shop owner recently where the customer was infected with a flesh eating bacterium by the use of unsanitary equipment.

It is not uncommon for people to turn to the art tattoo artist to leave a work of beauty etched permanently onto their skin. Such television shows as TLC's Miami Ink show incredible works of art being tattooed. The human skin becomes the canvas for memorials of fallen loved ones or pictures of children and art work that have a lasting mark through the tattoo design on the person.

About the Author

Steven McCarthy has been studying the best ways to treat skin problems using tattoo skin treatments and authored numerous papers on the topic so that quickly understanding skin care information is not something that has to be difficult for you. Check out www.treatingskinproblems.com  

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