Egyptian Tattoos

Life of Early Egyptians (2160-1994 BC) Middle Kingdom

Many traditional cultures also use tattoos on the flesh as a sort of passport to the world after death, although interestingly, with all the emphasis on the next world in ancient Egyptian culture, there is no indication that this was the case there.

Egypt is generally accepted as the cradle of tattoo art and by the Middle Kingdom tattoos seem to have been popular and culturally acceptable

2,000 BC to 3,000 BC

Several mummies have been recovered that date to as early as the XI Dynasty (2160-1994 BC) that exhibit tattoo art forms. One of the most famous of those early mummies is that of Amunet, a priestess of the goddess Hathor, who was found at Thebes. This female mummy displayed several lines and dots tattooed about her body. The tattoo patterns and markings were still clearly visible on her flesh.

Several other female mummies from this period show similar tattoos in addition to ornamental scarring (cicatrization) which is still popular today in some parts of Africa across the lower part of the abdomen. The series of dots and dashes held protective and fertility promoting significance. The lozenges are connected to the primal female power of the universe - motherhood.

The traditional reasons for tattooing include:
• to connect with the Divine.
• as a tribute or act of sacrifice to a deity.
• as a talisman, a permanent amulet that cannot be lost.
• to provide magical or medical protection.

Certainly, the connection between tattoos and the divine existed in ancient Egypt.

Beyond the geometric designs that were favoured, other designs discovered were found that were intrinsically connected to religion. Mummies dating from roughly 1300 BC are tattooed with pictographs symbolizing Neith, a prominent female deity with a militaristic bent. These are the only tattoos that at this point seem to have a link with male bearers.

The God Bes

The earliest known tattoo with a picture of something specific, rather than an abstract pattern, represents the god Bes. Bes is the lascivious god of revelry and he served as the patron god of dancing girls and musicians. Bes's image appears as a tattoo on the thighs of dancers and musicians in many Egyptian paintings, and Bes tattoos have been found on female Nubian mummies dating from about 400BC.

Africa

History of Tattoos in Africa Except for the 5000 year old man recently discovered in ice, the first evidence of tattoos leads back to the mummies in Egypt. The oldest tattoo was found on the mummy of Amunet, a priestess of the Goddess Hathor, during 2160-1994 BC. The mummy's simple tattoos were parallel lines on her arms, legs, and an elliptical pattern below her navel. Interestingly, no male mummies found in Egypt had their body adored with tattoos. Egyptologists, today, are of the opinion that these designs symbolized fertility and rejuvenation in women. However, male mummies that have been found in other parts of Africa, such as Libya, have tattoos of images relating to sun worship, on their body. In the tomb of Seti I, dating back to 1300 BC, tattoos symbolizing Neith, a Fierce Goddess, who led warriors into battle, were found on men. The first known tattoo of a person was discovered on Nubian female mummies, dating to 400 BC. The tattoo image portrayed the God of Sex and overseer of orgies, Bes. Another form of early body ornamentation was 'cicatrisation'. The word cicatrisation was derived from the French word, cicatrices, which mean 'scar'. This form of body ornamentation was common among the darker-skinned people of Africa, so that their original color of skin would not show. 

Tattooing In North Africa Even though Quran does not support the idea of engraving on the body, tattooing as an art form and cultural aspect has survived in the Islamic societies of North Africa. Strict Muslims from the society considered tattooing as unoly as it was considered to be a cause of injury to the body, making the body, a gift of the god, as imperfect in the eyes of Allah. Tattoo was also seen as an obstacle in letting the water penetrate through the skin, hamrrpering the ritual of purification in Islam. But there was a sect of Moroccan women that considered tattooing as a legitimate practice. There are also written documents from the early 20th century, stating that tattooing existed in the Arabic world at the time of Prophet Mohammed. Many traditional forms of tattooing exited in parts of North Africa like, Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, etc. 

Tattooing In Sub Saharan Africa When Europeans were exploring Sub Saharan Africa, they discovered that the indigenous people of this region practiced a cultural practice of scarring the skin. The Sahel is the region in Africa that stretches from the country of Senegal to the Red sea. The largest tribal group inhabiting the Sahel region is called Fulani. It is also the most heavily tattooed tribes of the region. 

Present Era While contemporary tattoos involve puncturing the skin for inserting pigment, Cicatrisation involves cutting the skin more severely to create wounds, which results in a decorative pattern of scar tissue. This popular technique for scarring involves two steps - piercing the skin and then, rubbing the wound with ash. The latter step is primarily done to inflame the skin, which later heals to form a raised scar. The wounds are perodically re-opened, and inserted with a pebble or pearl, in order to enhance the raised effect. This process used to be carried out on young boys who were about to hit puberty. It was continued until they entered the adulthood. Each tribe had its own individualistic style. Other African body altering traditions involve extreme forms of body piercing. The basic purpose of the art is to exaggerate body forms by ornamentation. Lips are pierced and objects are implanted inside, causing the lip tissue to elongate and conform to the shape of the implantd object as the flesh heals. Coming back to tattooing, African tribes are still seen with tattoos on their body. Available in numerable designs and forms, tattoos are mainly impressed to portray the symbols, which are unique to their group. This helps them to recognize people of their group and also those that belong to other groups. - See more at: http://bodyart.iloveindia.com/tattoo-history/tattooing-in-africa.html#sthash.glVZn6Lx.dpuf

Middle East

The Middle East has a rich tradition of body art, both in the form of permanent ink tattoos and the temporary Mehndi markings also seen in southern Asia, that stretches across history. A variety of methodologies to create body art in this region have seen employment from the dawn of civilization and the dynastic Egyptian period to the modern day. Tattoo traditions in particular have endured in the collective culture of tribal societies even as the spread of Islam subdued the propensity toward tattooing in mainstream Middle Eastern society. By examining the trifecta of history, methodology, and anthropology, greater insights into the fascinating and unique elements of Middle Eastern body art may be gleaned - and that is the driving purpose of this exhibit.

Bedouin: A tribal culture typically associated with Arabia and its environs, where the majority of it resides, the Bedouin have held fast to their traditions of tattooing for a multitude of generations. The word itself stems from the plural form of badaw, which means "desert dweller" in Arabic. Bedouin body art favors the application of tattoos to the face, particularly amongst women, coupled with displays of jewelry and other material items that in some sense elevate the entire body as a canvas for artistic expression.

Muslim Diaspora: With the rise of Islam, specifically the Sunni branch of Islam, the practice of tattooing lost some popularity in the Middle East due to the belief that tattoos mar the flesh and therefore mar the creation of Allah, which can be considered a grevious sin. The Shiite branch appears more relaxed on the issue, although as expected opinions do vary between individuals. Those who strictly forbid tattoos base their opinion on a hadith recorded by Bukhari - ""It was narrated that Abu Juhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) cursed the one who does tattoos, and the one who has a tattoo done."

Russian Tattoos

Russia's tattoo history that i can find is connected purely to prison and the tattoos that inmates get while incarcerated have certain meanings.

Russian mafia tattoos started gaining popularity during the Soviet Union's heyday. Prisoners were put through a brutal Soviet prison system known as the "gulag"; there, they began to create their own power hierarchy based on time served and crimes committed, among others. They branded themselves with tattoos so others could see at a glance where they stood, and the various crimes they committed.

You had to earn the tattoos you bore—gangsters caught with tattoos symbolizing false status had them brutally removed with sandpaper, glass and other abrasives, or were even killed or raped. Here are a few classic Russian gang tattoos and their meanings:

THE CATHEDRAL: A cathedral (or monastery, church, castle or fortress) tattooed on the back, hand or chest tends to denote the amount of time the bearer has been in prison, with each steeple representing a year. It can also indicate the number of times the bearer has been incarcerated, if he's served time for multiple offenses.

THE COBWEB: A spider's web, usually found on the shoulders, says the bearer has or had a drug addiction. A spider on the shoulders denotes that the bearer has a high rank.

THE CAT: Cat tattoos serve as the mark of a thief. A single cat means the thief acted alone; multiple cats say the thief was part of a bigger gang.

THE DAGGER: A dagger through the neck means that the bearer killed someone while incarcerated. It also indicates that he is available to be hired for a "hit". If there are drops of blood tattooed on the blade, those indicate the number of murders the bearer committed.

KNUCKLE DOTS: The number of dots on the bearer's knuckles correlate to the number of years the bearer served in prison.

STARS: Stars tattooed on the knees mean the bearer will bow down to no man. On the shoulders, they can mean the bearer is one of discipline, high status and tradition, or they denote that the bearer has been promoted to captain of the mafia.

THE BULL: A bull tattooed on the chest or forearm means the bearer is a hitman, and has been hired by their mafia boss to kill.

THE PIRATE: A pirate tattoo means the bearer has committed armed robbery.

THE TIGER: A tiger tattoo is usually found on the neck, arms or back. It typically signifies that the bearer has killed a law enforcement officer, like a policeman or prison guard.

India Tattoo

Indians are very particular about culture and when many people are getting tattoo Faridabad, most people still think about the culture and tradition attached to body art.  Tattoo was used mostly as a form of celebration and receptions, weddings, and other such festive celebrations saw many body arts being created. 

Along with celebrations bringing out these decorative souls, tattoo Chandigarh and other Indian countries was something that women mostly did.  Mehandi was what this work of art on the female body was known as and it is also a tattoo form that is commonly used today known as Henna tattoo.  This form of body art was not only used in India but was used in many rituals in areas as far as Africa.  The Henna tattoo is not permanent like the ones done with the needles and ink and it is a form of body art that women loved because it faded after a period of time. 

The art of creating Mehandi was a very popular routine and all women participating in a wedding in the past would tattoo their body as a tradition. Along with the use of tattoos to celebrate certain occasions, there were some Indians who used tattoos as a part of their beliefs.  These Indians would apply the body art to ward off bad spirits and any other omens they may think might be around them.  This belief behind getting a tattoo Chandigarh is still being practiced today; even if it is not on such a wide scale as in the past. 

Tattoo Faridabad as with tattoos throughout India was also done to show affection and love.  Many people in the Indian society choose to get tattoos if they lost someone they loved.  These tattoos will be the person’s name or it may also be the name of a god that they adored.  The pratice of getting different fertility symbols tattooed on the body was also very popular and many Indian women would also tattoo a symbol to represent good health and long life. 

As you can see, the history of tattoo in India has transcended throughout the years and today many people are wearing tattoo in Chandigarh for fashion and as a part of their culture as well.  Tattoo is very famous throughout the world and is used as an expression of oneself. 

If you have been seeking a way to express yourself and be an individual, think about getting a tattoo in Chandigarh and see the difference it makes.

Tattoo Design

Basic foundations of tattooing is the tattoo design. Without the, what is there to tattoo?
A common mistake in the field is that a tattooist who can draw feels that their shop won't be respectable if they carry "storebought" flash or stock tattoo designs and insist on hand drawing every design on their shop walls. Don't fall into this category, because people have rally different tastes and a good stock of all types of designs from all types of artists will ensure something for everybody. is is good business sense to have a variety. If someone wants a custom design for themselves, no problem.

Personalized tattoos are great for sales and the customer walks away with a "one-of-a-kind". If you can't draw it, ask them to bring the design in themselves, or have a local artist do it for you. You can spend hours and hours on special designs for people who ordered them and might not ever return. So, if you're smart, get a deposit when someone wants you to draw up something special. Charge them for the time spent drawing it up. If they don't want to pay for that, tell them to find a design already made up and you'll be happy to put it on them.

Designs for tattoos are found everywhere. You should be able to copy just about anything and transfer it to the client. if you look around, good designs can be found from any sources; books, photos, cards, brochures, wall paper, posters, comics, advertisements, tv, magazines, etc. The size usually needs to be changed and often it will need to be modified for tattooing in some way. Not everything looks good on skin.

Chinese Tattoo History

Tattooing has been an art known in China for thousands of years. It is know as Ci Shen or Wen Shen which literally means "puncture the body". It has an uncommon practice in China. Tattooing has been seen as a defamation of the body in Chinese history, something undesirable.

One of the 4 classical novels of Chinese Literature, does reference tattooing. Water Margin tell stories of bandits of Mount Liang area of China during the early 12th century. The novel talks about the 108 companions of the historical bandit Song Jiang. Three of these characters are referenced as having tattoos covering their entire bodies which looking at the views of tattooing in china and bandits being bandits it fits the bill. 

The most famous tattoo in Chinese history comes from the legend of the Chinese general Yueh Fei. Yueh Fei served the South Song Dynasty. During battle with northern enemies the Field Marshall under whom Yueh Fei served betrayed the South Song and went over to the enemy. In protest Yueh Fei resigned and returned home. His mother grew angry with him, telling him that his duty was first and foremost to his country, despite all else. To remind him of this fact she tattooed four characters on his back with her sewing needle. These characters, jin zhong bao guo, are difficult to translate but mean something like “Serve his country with ultimate loyalty.”

At some points in Chinese history Chinese tattoos were also used to mark criminals. Criminals convicted of a severe crime would be ordered to have a tattoo printed on their face and exiled into a faraway land. Even should the criminal ever return the tattoo would mark them forever as a criminal? This form of punishment was known as Ci Pei

In modern China Chinese tattoos have grown somewhat of a stigma as being affiliated with organized crime and the criminal underworld.

Dulong Tattoos

Tattooing among women of the Dulong group, who live along the Dulong River, dates back to the Ming Dynasty some 350 years ago. During this time the Dulong were under attack from many of their neighbors, and the women would often be taken as slaves.The Dulong women began tattooing their faces in reaction. It was thought that the tattoos would make them uglier and less likely to be raped. This tradition has continued into modern times despite the fact that the Dulong are no longer under attack from neighboring tribes.At the age of 12 or 13 all Dulong girls are tattooed on their faces. This is a rite of passage among Dulong women and is seen as a sign of maturity

Dai Tattoos

The Dai people of China have an ancient tattooing tradition. Both men and women among the Dai are tattooed. Dai women are generally tattooed on the backs of their hands, their arms or have a small dot tattooed between their eyebrows. Among Dai men tattoos are seen as a sign of strength and virility. Generally tattoos will be made in such a way as to accentuate and draw attention to their muscles. Although there are no fixed traditional designs among the Dai people, most commonly the tattoos will be of a ferocious beast such as a dragon or a tiger. In ancient times Dai tattoos were given to young children of the ages of 5 or 6, however it grew to be more common to be given about the ages of 14 or 15, sort of a rite of passage into adulthood. Tattooing among the Dai is still practiced to this day.

Li Tattoos

Tattooing also has a long standing tradition among the Li people of Hainan Island. Most commonly tattooing among the Li people, like those of the Du Long, are practiced among the women. Men have been known to have three blue circular rings tattooed on their wrists for medicinal purposes, but other than that the tattooing is among women. Like both the Du Long and the Dai, the art of tattooing among the Li is seen as a rite of passage into maturity and adulthood. A Li girl is tattooed sometime during the ages of 13 or 14. The girl would first be tattooed on the nape of the neck, the throat and on the face. This process would take about four or five days.Over the next three years, the girl would then have her arms and legs tattooed. Her hands were not tattooed. Among the Li only married women could have their hands tattooed, it was not appropriate for single women to wear them.Li tattoos differed greatly among the different Li tribes, and could be easily used to differentiate between a woman of one tribe and another.

During the 1930's a German ethnologist Hans Stubel studied the Li people, and wrote extensively of their tattooing practices. It is mostly from his work that our understandings of their tattooing customs come from. During his day few still wore facial tattoos, tattooing was primarily of the arms and legs. Today hardly anyone in Hainan sports the traditional tattoos of the Li people save a few elderly women.