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Caitlin Edgell Ms. Rand ENGL 1103 2 November 2013 Tattoo Culture Throughout History We are all tattooed in our cradles with the beliefs of our tribe; the record may seem superficial, but it is indelible (Cain). Garrison Keillor, an American author, wrote this about how important culture and family is to ones identity. Tattooing is highly cultural, ancient art, dating back thousands and thousands of years as far as 4400 BC. In some places, especially in developed places such as the United States, tattoos have both personal and aesthetic significances. Other, more rural places with deep cultural roots have more spiritual and medicinal significances specific to their tribe or culture, as well as certain methods of tattooing and marking associated with each culture. Tattooing and tribal marking is a taboo subject in nearly all cultures, but the stigma associated with permanent body modifications seems to be adapted and lessening as the years go by. The significances and methods of tattooing have changed throughout history, particularly in remote cultures apart from our own, such as tribes in China, Egypt, and Nigeria. The art of tattooing in China is heavily based in tradition. Historically, Chinese tattooing has been a varied practice; in the past, tattooing was sometimes considered barbaric and done to mark criminals. In urban areas of China, tattooing is still considered taboo and reserved for those involved in criminal activity or gangs (Bjrkell). This negative attitude towards tattoos is far from recent - for thousands of years, the Chinese didnt believe in tattooing as an art. Not only were tattoos reserved for criminals and

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slaves, but the elder populations of China still frown upon the tattooing of anyone as well (Bjrkell). Although China overall may have a negative attitude towards tattooing, there are many tribes who still practice this ancient art today. The Dai people, for example, have heavy traditions in tattooing. In this tribe, both the men and women are tattooed equally as often, but for different reasons. Around fourteen years old, a small dot is between womens eyebrows. Additionally, they are tattooed on the back of their arms and the back of their hands (History of Chinese). Men are tattooed as a sign of strength and virility, with typical designs of ferocious beast(s), such as a dragon or tiger (History of China). Mens tattoos are done to draw attention to their muscles and show strength, while womens are meant to shield from evil spirits as well as increase beauty (Custom of Tattooing). Another example of a Chinese culture with heavy historical roots in tattooing is the Li people of Hainan Island. In this culture, men are rarely tattooed, and if they are, it is for medicinal purposes. Men often have three blue rings on their wrists, but this is all. Women, on the other hand, were historically much more heavily tattooed. When a girl reached the age of thirteen, she would be tattooed first on the nape of her neck, face and throat (History of Chinese). This signified that young woman was now mature enough to be married (Krutak). Over the next several years, the Li woman would be tattooed on her arms and legs. The only parts of her that needed to remain tattoo-less until marriage were the backs of her hands. Upon marriage, Li women received tattoos on the back of their hands to show that they were married (History of Chinese). As the island of Hainan grows more and more modern, the ancient tattooing practices of the Li become less and

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less common. Nowadays, the only members of the Li that participate in traditional tattooing are very few elderly women in the most remote villages of Hainan (Krutak). While China has its own varied traditions and significances, Nigeria has its own practices in tattooing that are specific to tribes as well. Historically speaking, tribes and cultures throughout Nigeria have partaken in marking, scarring and tattooing its members as a spiritual, initiation-like event. For example, the Yoruba people of Nigeria have specific practices that have been around for hundreds of years. Tribal marks, as they are called, are given to members of the tribe when they are born. CNN documented a baby boy receiving his first tribal marks: a tear-shaped cut beneath each of his eyes (Purefoy). These two marks will identify the baby boy as a member of a specific family. As the individual ages, he or she receives more and more tribal marks, not only on his or her face, but also on the arms and legs (The Kick Against). Not only does this act as a family identification for the Yoruba, but it is also very spiritual, as it is only performed by a High Priestess or Priest. This practice dates back hundreds of years, but is slowly becoming less and less common as Nigeria, like China, becomes modernized (Purefoy). Like the Yoruba, other cultures such as the Hausa and Jarawa mark their members to identify family. This practice stems from historical slave trade and war times. Professor Lanre Olutayo says, Tribal marks became a necessity in the old days as a result of the incessant communal wars and slave trade experienced then. Families became separated as people were often taken away as slaves and to avoid completely losing their folks, they decided to mark their faces, hoping it would help to withhold family ties (The Kick Against). This explains why the Nigerian cultures found tribal markings so important. In addition to the familial identification aspect of the marks,

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members of these cultures also found that the marks beautified the face and made the individual more attractive (The Kick Against). Because the Yoruba and other cultures place these painful and permanent tribal marks on children, the Nigerian government is attempting to outlaw the marking of children. Although the main government may be trying to make this practice illegal, states within Nigeria have the right to approve or deny this law. Many states have chosen to deny it (Purefoy). Legally speaking, the states that have approved it call it Child Rights Law. It prohibits any marks or tattoos from being made on a childs skin; the consequence is a hefty fine and/or prison time (A Kick Against). Currently, in other, non-tribal and urban parts of Nigeria, tattooing is seen as a purely aesthetic part of modern culture. Although tribal marks are dying out, a new trend in body modification is emerging. Men in Nigeria have taken to tattooing their lips a brighter color in order to be seen as more attractive by women (Mertz). This beautification trend, and others, what tattooing is Nigeria is currently, with the exception of the few rare tribal markings that are still practiced. Egypt has quite a rich backstory with tattooing, dating back as far as 4000 BC, with women as the primary tattooed gender. Throughout ancient Egyptian history, tattoos were typically all given with the same purpose honoring a specific deity. The oldest tattooed mummy found in Egypt is that of the Priestess Amunet (Egypt: Ancient). Amunet has tattoos on her abdomen, arms and thighs. The lines placed in a circular fashion on her lower abdomen seem to suggest that they were to encourage pregnancy. The lines on her upper abdomen would expand with pregnancy, making the tattoos even more visible. These tattoos have an undeniably carnal overtone, says world-renowned

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Egyptian scholar Robert Bianchi (Tattoos of the Egyptian). Other mummies found with Amunet have similar markings. These markings were spiritual in nature, done to honor the Egyptian Goddess of fertility Hathor (Tattoos of the Egyptian). Around 4000 BC, the Egyptian women were honoring Hathor by marking their bodies, but around 1550 BC, they began to honor Bes, the God of carnal love and fighting (Tattoos of the Egyptian). All throughout history, the women of Egypt have honored the more erotic deities of love, lust and fertility. While priestesses and followers of carnal gods and goddesses were being tattooed to honor their deities, others were being branded and others were being therapeutically marked. Egyptian mummies that were branded, instead of tattooed, carried the mark of a prostitute or dancing girl, as some scholars believed them to be called. Slaves and prisoners captures during war were also branded to show their status. Some slaves and prostitutes were even marked on their faces so that no matter what they wore, everyone would know their lower status (The History of). In addition to the honor of a deity and branding of prostitutes and slaves, women were tattooed or marked for therapeutic purposes. Marks across the abdomen were said to ease childbirth and pregnancy, while other marks - such as on the wrists, ankles or other extremities were said to ease physical ailments. These tattoos were placed in spots used for acupuncture and the method of ink delivery was similar to the therapeutic delivery of acupuncture, as well (A History of). Tattoos in Egypt were historically very accepted within the culture, and nothing has changed since then. While the markings have varied since the times of Amunet, what has not changed is Egypts attitude towards tattoos they are very common. Currently,

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Cairo is experiencing a large increase in tattoos among the elite upper class. Many tattoo parlors have opened within the last year and have been quite busy since, even though there are no laws prohibiting or allowing tattoo parlors. Even with this ambiguous legal stance, tattoo parlors continue to thrive for the time being. Taber, a tattoo artist at the Cairo tattoo parlor called Deviant Subkulture [sic], says that the growing desire for body art is becoming more daring, despite legality. Our most popular tattoos have been the smaller ones, sometimes those that can be hidden under clothes, but we have noticed people are getting bolder and bolder. Many people like revolutionary art and Arabic calligraphy (El Adl). This is most like historic Egypt, when tattoos were celebrated and encouraged for everyone. While tattooing is still a taboo subject up for much debate across the globe, one thing is certain every culture has ties to body art, tattooing and tribal marking in some way. Some have a historical tie, while others are free to live in a culture and community where they can express spirituality, individuality or simply artistry through the medium of permanent body modifications. Hopefully, the entire world will become more accepting of tattoos and view them as something beautiful, rather than something taboo, offensive or that needs to be hidden away. Embracing ones culture is incredibly important, and it looks promising that the world is moving towards tattoo acceptance, on a personal, professional and cultural level. Just as Keillor wrote, We are all tattooed in our cradles with the beliefs of our tribe; the record may seem superficial, but it is indelible.

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Works Cited A History of Chinese Tattoos. Cultural China, 2007. Web. 2 Nov. 2013. Bjrkell, Stina. Skin Deep: The Art of Tattooing In China. GB Times, 21 June 2011. Web. 2 Nov. 2013. Cain, Lonny. Paperwork: Proud of Our Tribe and the Tattoos. NY Web Times, 31 Aug. 2012. Web. 5 Nov. 2013. The Custom of Tattooing of Huayao Dai. Stepping Into Damuyu, 29 September 2012. Web. 5 Nov. 2013. Egypt: Ancient Egyptian Beauty - Tattoos in Ancient Egypt. Tour Egypt, 2013. Web. 5 Nov. 2013. El Adl, Omar. Tattoos Go Mainstream in Cairo. Daily News Egypt, 17 Dec. 2012. Web. 4 Nov. 2013. Gambino, Megan. Can Tattoos Be Medicinal?. Smithsonian.com. Smithsonian, 10 December 12. Web. 20 Oct. 2013. The History of Tattooing. Ancient Wisdom, Dec. 2012. Web. 5 Nov. 2013. The Kick Against Aged Tribal Marks In Nigeria. StarAfrica, 15 June 2013. Web. 1 Nov. 2013. Krutak, Lars. At the Tail of the Dragon: The Vanishing Tattoos of the Li People . Vanishing Tattoos, 2006. Web. 4 Nov. 2013. Lineberry, Cate. Tattoos. Smithsonian.com. Smithsonian, 1 January 2007. Web. 20 October 2013.

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Mertz, Richard. The Latest Mens Fashion in Nigeria. Things You Didnt Know, 16 Sep. 2013. Web. 5 Nov. 2013. Ozongqu, Melinda. Tribal Marks The Fading of the African Tattoo. This is Africa. Hivos People Unlimited, 23 August 2013. Web. 28 October 2013. Purefoy, Christian. Tribal Scars Custom Drying Up In Nigeria. Cnn.com, 21 July 2010. Web. 3 Nov. 2013. Tattoos of the Egyptian World. University of Southern California. Web. 5 Nov. 2013. Tucker, Abigail. Looking at the Worlds Tattoos. Smithsonian.com. Smithsonian, October 2010. Web. 20 October 2013.