A brief history of Tattoos
The word tattoo is said to has two major derivations from
the Polynesian word ‘ta’ which means striking something
and the Tahitian word ‘Tatau’ which means ‘to mark something’.
The history of tattoo began over 5000 years ago and is as
diverse as the people who wear them.
Tattoos are created by inserting coloured materials beneath
the skins surface. Despite the social sciences growing fascination with tattooing
and the immense popularity of tattoos themselves the practice has not left much of a historical record.
Japan
The earliest evidence of tattooing in japan is found in the form
of clay figurines which have faces painted or engraved to
represent tattoo marks. the oldest figurines of this kind have
been recovered from tombs dated 3,000 BC and many
other such figurines have been found in tombs dating from the
second and third millennia BC.
these figurines served as stand-ins for living individuals who
symbolically accompanied the dead on their journey into death and it is believed that the tattoo marks had a magical significance.
The first written record of Japanese tattooing is found in a
Chinese dynastic history compiled in 297 AD.
The Japanese were interested in the art mostly for its decorative
attributes, as opposed to magical ones. the horas - the Japanese
tattoo artists - were the undisputed masters. their use of colours,
perspective, and imaginative designs gave the practice a whole
new angle. the classic Japanese tattoo, is a full body suit.
China
from southern china the practice spread along the silk route.
New Zealand
The Maori of New Zealand had created one of the most impressive
cultures of all Polynesia their tattoo, called ‘moko’, reflected their
refined artistry - using their woodcarving skills to carve skin.
the full-face moko was a mark of distinction, which communicated
their status, lines of descent and tribal affiliations. it recalled their
wearer's exploits in war and other great events of their life.
Indonesia
Borneo is one of the few places in the world where traditional
tribal tattooing is still practiced today just as it has been for
thousands of years. until recently many of the inland tribes had
little contact with the outside world.
as a result, they have preserved many aspects of their traditional
way of life, including tattooing.
Borneo designs have gone all around the world to form the
basis of what the western people call ‘tribal’.
India / Thailand
Hanuman in India was a popular symbol of strength on arms and legs. The mythical monk is still today one of the most popular creations in Thailand and Myanmar.
they are put on the human body by monks who incorporate magical powers to the design while tattooing.
women are excluded because monks are not allowed to be touched by them and because this believe women do not need the extra boost as they are already strong enough on
their own.
Africa
In Africa, where people have dark skin, it is difficult to make coloured tattoos as we know them but they want to be tattooed anyway, so they have developed
another technique - they make scarification's (this is not really
tattooing, but it is related to tattooing). made by lifting the skin a little,
and making a cut with a knife or some other sharp thing
special sands or ashes were rubbed in to make raised scars
in patterns on the body, it can be felt like braille lettering these patterns often follow local traditions.
Ancient Greece And Rome
the Greeks learnt tattooing from the Persians.
their woman were fascinated by the idea of tattoos as
exotic beauty marks. The romans adopted tattooing from the Greeks.
roman writers believed that many slaves and criminals were tattooed.
Greeks and Romans also used tattooing as a punishment.
early in the fourth century, when constantine became roman emperor
and rescinded the prohibition on Christianity, he also banned tattooing
on face, which was common for convicts, soldiers, and gladiators.
constantine believed that the human face was a representation of the
image of god and should not be disfigured or defiled.
The Celts
Celtic culture was full of body art.
permanent body painting was done with woad, which left a blue
design on the skin. spirals are very common, and they can be single,
doubled or tripled knotwork is probably the most recognized form
of Celtic art, with lines forming complex braids which then weave
across themselves. these symbolise the connection of all life.
step or key patterns, like those found in early labyrinth designs,
are seen both in simple borders and full complex mazes.
much in the way that labyrinths are walked, these designs are
symbolic of the various paths that life’s journey can take.
North America
Among the Chickasaw, outstanding warriors were recognised
by their tattoos among the Ontario Iroquoians, elaborate
tattoos reflected high status in north-west America,
Inuit women's chins were tattooed to indicate marital status and group identity.
the first permanent tattoo shop in New York city was set up
in 1846 and began a tradition by tattooing military servicemen
from both sides of the civil war. Samuel o'reilly invented the electric
tattooing machine in 1891.
During the time of the old testament, much of the pagan world
was practicing the art of tattooing as a means of deity worship.
a passage in leviticus reads:
‘ye shall not make any cuttings on your flesh for the dead nor
print any marks upon you’. (19:28)
this has been cited as biblical authority to support the church's
position. biblical scholar m.w. thomson suggests, however, that
moses favored tattoos. moses introduced tattoos as a way to
commemorate the deliverance of the jews from slavery in Egypt.
Vikings
It is very likely that the vikings were tattooed.
at around year 1100 the arab ibn fadlan described a
meeting with some vikings. he thought them very rude, dirty and covered with pictures.
England
Explorers returned home with tattooed Polynesians to exhibit at fairs, in lecture halls and in dime museums, to demonstrate the height of european civilization compared to the ‘primitive natives’. After captain cook returned from his voyage to Polynesia tattooing became a tradition in the british navy.
By the middle of the 18th century most british ports had at least one professional tattoo artist in residence. In 1862, the prince of wales, later to become king edward VII, received his first tattoo - a jerusalem cross - on his arm.
He started a tattoo fad among the aristocracy when he was tattooed before ascending to the throne. In 1882, his sons, the duke of clarence and the duke of York were tattooed by the japanese master tattooist, Hori Chiyo.
Stereotypical and sensationalised association of tattoo design
--
Sailor
sailors on their ships returned home with their own tattoos...
usually flowers, hearts, mermaids, ships, anchors, snakes, birds, and names.
Criminality
In prison, the tattoo - professionally done and homemade-
indelibly imprint on their bodies what these men desire in their
souls: autonomy and identity. Known symbols include teardrops under the eye as well as spider webs on the elbows to symbolize people killed.
Circus
The popularity of tattooing during the latter part of the nineteenth
century and the first half of the twentieth century owed much to
the circus. when circuses prospered, tattooing prospered.
for over 70 years every major circus employed several completely
tattooed people. some were exhibited in sideshows;
others performed traditional circus acts such as juggling and
sword swallowing.
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