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History Of Tattooing


Many see this as an understanding to why people have associated tattooing in the survival and healing of bad wounds (Flamepoint). Different cultures have different beliefs of where tattooing originated. The first proven evidence was found in 1991, showing that tattooing may have began in Italy near Austria, dating back to 4000 BC, where they found a man in permafrost (Flamepoint). Carbon dating suggested that he was 5,300 years old and was a shaman or someone holy of a tribe (Nudity). Shortly after, evidence was found proving tattoos were on the bodies of Egyptian mummies, dating back to 4,000 years ago (Nudity). .
             During this era, tattoos were applied to skin with sharp instruments holding pigment. Different cultures also used this practice and it spread from Egypt to Greece, Persia, Central Asia, and Arabia along the trade routes. In Greece, people used tattoos for communication amongst themselves, identifying spies, and also showing rank in tribes (Midre). Along these merchant routes the practice spread to China. In China, they believed that ones body is a precious gift from the parents and should never be adulterated by a tattoo (Chinapage). "Ci Pei" meaning "tattoo/exile", was placed on a criminal's face when a court found them guilty of a severe crime. These tattoos marked that person as a criminal for life (Chinapage). Even in China today, tattoos are more likely to be used to mark members of the underground criminal society (Chinapage). Romans also tattooed criminals and slaves (Priory). .
             From China, tattooing spread to Japan. In Japan they also used tattoos to mark criminals using a Chinese character that meant dog (midre). They also rejected the religious meanings of tattoos that many cultures used them for and turned towards the more graphical and ornamental practice (Midre). In reaction to the harsh laws of the Tokugawa government that only allowed royalty to wear embroidered clothing caused the poor to flaunt full body tattoo suits (Priory).


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