TANE:Ancient Asian Tattooing

ANCIENT ASIAN TATTOOS









The word tattoo is said to be derived from the Tahitian word ‘tatau’ meaning ‘to strike something’. This word was appropriated by the British explorer Captain James Cook who in turn introduced the concept to Europe. Tattooing had origins in many cultures throughout 5000 years including the Eskimos and the Maori tribes of New Zealand; In Asia the phenomenon appeared in Burma and along the Silk Route, but most prominently in the underworld of Japan.

Tattooing was a concept thought to be absent from
China during the early A.D.s. However, Marco
Polo reported that in the heart of Chinese
society a small tattoo was considered
a mark of handsomeness among men
and women.

In India, hanuman was a popular
symbol of limb strength. This
design of a mythical monk was
applied by monks who
incorporated magical powers
while tattooing.

The Japanese were interested in tattooing’s decorative attributes rather than magical. The earliest textual and archeological evidence suggests the Japanese practice of skin art emerged as far back as 10,000 B.C.

An archeological study unearthed several dogu (figurines) made in Japan during the Jomon period (circa 10,000 B.C. to 300 B.C.). These figurines bore markings around their mouths. In comparison with the markings of many Pacific cultures, these dogu markings were conclusive to the theory that tattooing existed during this period.
Tattooing in the Yayoi period of Japan (300 B.C. to A.D. 300) was not documented by this society. Instead, all historical evidence comes from brief descriptions in ancient Chinese text referring to Japan. “Men, young and old, all tattoo their faces and decorate their bodies with designs …/ Later, however, the designs became merely ornamental.” (Goodrich 1951:10).
The Kofun period in Japan (A.D 300-600) produced works documenting the meanings of tattoo practices during the time. Many writings, in particular the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, describe tattoos as being part of social status identification – in most cases associated with criminals.

Through the Edo period (1600 to 1868) the Japanese upper classes began to see the emergence of full-body tattoos (or irezumi) as a trait of the lower classes. “In Japan the tattoo was considered to be an entirely inappropriate practice for members of ‘decent’ society…considered a periphery of society, by those of rowdy behavior and so on.” (McCallum 1988:121) Raids on tattoo artists occurred daily as the government feared a corruption of public morals. The irezumi were banned as a barbaric custom in 1872. The law remained until the end of WWII.

In the Middle East, during the time of the Old Testament, tattoos were being practiced as a means of pagan deity worship. After the advent of Christianity, tattooing was forbidden in Europe, but persisted in the Middle East.















Masters Of Tattoo, Gregor von Glinski, Edition Stemmle
The Encyclopaedia Brittannica Vol. II 15th Edition, MICROPAEDIA Ready Reference Pushing Ink The Fine Art Of Tattooing, Spider Webb, Schiffer Publishing

Images: Yakuza member being tattooed/Yakuza gang image http://www.crimelibrary.com/
Large back tattoo- http://www.japanprints.com/ . Delightful fellow with full-body tattoos and naked butt- http://www.designboom.com/ .
Yakuza prints on girl’s back – www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2007/09/03
Japanese girl getting tats black and white - http://www.inventorspot.com/