Home <
Personal < Get A Name < Tattoos
|
Why We Don't Do Tattoos |
| 1. Nonsense Chinese |
|
What looks mystical and intelligent often has a nonsensical or embarrassing meaning. Probably neither the wearer nor the tattoo artist understand what the characters actually mean. |
| 2. Wisdom on body modification |
Our bodies, to every hair and bit of skin, are received by us from our parents, and we must not presume to injure or wound them. This is the beginning of filial piety.
Confucius, The Book of Filial Piety |
| 3. Language changes, tattoos don't |
|
Even if you were to find a well-researched Chinese name or idiom and get it tattooed, the meaning may change a year later. You could be stuck with an unwanted association.
|
|
Try These Instead |
We suggest thinking twice before putting permanent foreign symbols on your skin. Why not wear your Chinese name on a t-shirt instead? Just as beautiful, and it comes off.
• Personal Name Stamp
• Personalized Embroidered Apparel
|
| Survey |
Do you agree with A Word About Tattoos?
Please take a quick survey. You do not have to reveal your identity.
• A Word About Tattoos Survey
• Survey results
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Survey started: July 20, 2004
Page last updated: January 1, 2006
3. Please explain if you can. We may update the article based on your feedback.
"I stumbled upon your site while looking for a gift for my wife who is Chinese. I
thought a stamp bearing her name would be an awesome gift. Instead, I found a
lecture on the evils of tattooing. 'A Word About Tattoos' is uninformative at best and is obviously self-serving. You don't sell tattoo art. and a simple statement of 'We don't sell tattoo art' would have sufficed. Why do you feel the need to expand on this statement. You even include verses from the bible! What is wrong with you people. Let the clergy interpret the bible... you guys should stick to selling asian characters. You just lost a sale."
"I was plesantly surprised to see your article about tattoos. I don't believe I
have ever run across an article on a website like this discouraging tattoos. It
was very refreshing."
"I love language and linguistics. I find it fascinating that the Chinese language
can express such complex ideas in beautiful symbols rather than detailed
explanations. I wanted to get a small tattoo that captured my love for the
language and said something personal about me. I still think I would like it,
but I don't want to risk offending any native speakers who may view my tattoo as
only following a fad. I don't consider tattoos as tainting a person's body if
they are discreet and meaningful. I wanted one as a special reminder of
something that was important to me that was also aesthetically pleasing."
"As a non-Asian student of Chinese culture and language, I am embarrassed to see
people with Chinese symbols tattooed on their bodies only because they 'look cool'. They have no respect for the chinese culture."
"I believe you should not put anything on your body that is harder to remove than
a T-shirt."
"I saw one of my brother's friends with a chinese tatoo on his arm. I asked to
see it, as I can read a fair number of characters, and he had no idea what it
said. I looked at it and was confused for a moment, as I could not make sense of
it -- then I realized the characters were tattooed inversely (that is, they were
the mirror image of the proper characters). I feel this more than illustrates
your warning about westerners ignorant of the language getting chinese tatoos.
and the world doesn't need another fool with 'dragon' or 'love' tatooed on them.
But another of my brother's friends wanted a phrase that suggested loss and the temporality of phenomena (he had just gone through a bad break up). he didn't want anyone else to understand the tatoo's significance, so we consulted a chinese friend, and got him the idiom "guo wang yun yan" (gone the way of the clouds and smoke), and the tattoo is correct and well rendered."
"I almost completely agree with the article. But I am still mindful of the
aesthetic qualities of glyphs and letterforms themselves - independent of their
meaning. Perhaps an inscription that makes no sense would be preferable, from an
aesthetic point of view, over one which might express some unwanted sentiment.
That being said, I do feel that the ideal would be an aesthetically interesting
*and* meaningful inscription."
"did answer no but really would have said yes and no, yes is informative but
would also be good to offer the alternative methods to have temporary tattoos
and information on this. Recently i have used the henna which i know can not be
safe for everyone but it was for me a safe and non permament alternative to
achieve the look but not have it for the rest of my life."
"I didn't understand the part about chinese symbols changing. Are they not a
constant/always have the same meaning?"
"I agree with your basic stance on the matter but dont think its really a religous matter. No matter what you tatto on your body you should think long and hard before you do. I have the characters in Korean for Moo Duk Kwan
and have had it for over 15 years and
never had any regrets. P.S. have had several korean store owners read the charaters with ease and fully understand their meaning. I do agree that the characters should be researched by a reputable source."
"agreed that language changes and embarrassment may ensue...disagree somewhat as it is all a matter of personal choice. Good caveat, though."
"I can understand the points you have made but I simply want to have my
children's names symbolised in the beautiful chinese writing. It is just my way
of marking my children's name in my own personal way."
"It would be helpful if you could suggest how to get the closest translation possible. Suggesting that people get things on a t-shirt instead of a tattoo seems a little lame to me. I want a tattoo that says Brandon Lee in Chinese, this is because I have great admiration for Brandon and feel a certain closeness to him even though he is no longer with us. I wouldnt want to walk around with his name in Chinese symbols on a t-shirt, not really the same level of dedication and respect is it?"
"This article is awsome. Your website is one of the first I've seen that
discourages tattos. Keep up the good work mate!"
"I wouldn't get a tatoo anyhow, but I thought your info was humorous."
"Wisdom is rarely found, and perhaps rarely sought, by those who are interested
in body modifications; the wisdom of your advice is very clear and plainly
stated so that anyone may understand it"
"Agree. I find badly-drawn or incorrect characters tattooed on people offensive."
"I think getting a tattoo is not a means of wounding or injuring the body. A
quote like that can be taken many ways. I believe it was intended to presume
intentional harmful acts as a means of personal punishment should not be
commited. There are numerous religions that encourage tattoos to prove faith. I
am not aware of leviticus, but I have to imagine that one man speaking on behalf
of The Lord requires more credibility. I was also not aware the word tattoo
dates back to the time of Christ. What if my tattoo said in plain english "I love God", or "love & Gratitude". I can't see how these go against God's will. I agree tattoos can create regretful experiences. I have to believe if I got a tattoo now I would have no idea how I would feel about it in 10 years. You have a great site though, it really made me think twice. You should provide more info to prove your point. It's not convincing enough. Thanks."
"It offers good advice about getting a chinese tattoo however the part about it
being perhaps 'unethical' or disrespectful to our parents is abit opinionated to me."
"it has a point but i think the people that are knocking getting tattoos and
saying its a trend or cool thing then thats your opinion keep it to yourself
after all if its not your body then you have not right to worry about it and
please try to keep an open mind about it cause every tattoo means something to
the person its on."
"tattoos are memories. Even if the meaning of the symbol changes you can still
say and remember what it meant when you got it done."
"Tattoos are permenant, and the decision to have one and what it will be should
be well thought out."
"Tattoos are almost always unsightly."
"While i have wanted to get chinese words tattooed I haven't because I don't
speak, read or write the language. And I don't want to get stuck with something
then find out it doesn't mean what I thought it did."
"I have the symbol for playing a musical instrument on my body, and it has been
identified as such by many Chinese and Japanese people."
"Tattoos are suspiciously easy to attain.
In essence - if you can (feel/be) different because of something painfully needled into you, then you and I differ."
"Your cautious approach to tattooing Chinese characters is certainly warranted.
But you seem to have a strong anti-tattoo bias in general, and also obviously
have a vested interest in convincing people to buy your apparel as an
alternative to tattoos. My feeling is that it is simply foolish for people to
walk into a tattoo shop and pick a Hanzi phrase from a book of tattoo art. But
it is another story altogether if a person has a sincere interest in Chinese
characters and culture and picks the phrase out by themselves."
"At the end of the day, its your body, you decide what to do with it, the fact im
considering a chinese tattoo is showing my love for the country."
"It would be hard to disagree seeing as how I myself have tattooed Chinese
Characters on my body. And while I worry that they do not mean what I intended
them to, my intentions were pure."
"I'm an artist and appreciate the true tattoo artists, not the ones that hang
around the beach. I believe, tastefully done, it can be very revealing AND
mysterious. I do believe that there are people who become tattoo addicts (as
well as piercing addicts). Most of all I believe that a tattoo should be very
carefully thought out, design perfected on paper first, done by an extremely
reputable artist who complies to all health standards. Another important thing
to consider before tattooing is your own health. Are you sick? Have immune
problems? Possibly allergic to certain ink dies?"
"i believe that body art is beautiful. i think it is disrespectful to get a
tattoo."
"Again, it comes back to each person's view. I know that my body was given to me
by something greater and it is to this greatness that it will be returned when
the time is right. In the meantime, should I modify it and, in turn, bring it
happiness, I can't see any reason why I should be ashamed or regretful."
"There is no sense passing judgement on these people. I wouldn't do a Hanzi/Kanji pattern myself, but if someone wanted a particularly moving passage from the Matsuo Basho collection or something, it'd be nice if they could get the characters right. For example, I speak Japanese, but can't read it - I might hear something in recitation, but not be able to read the text for myself."
"I think tattoos are ridiculous, and tattoos in a language you can't read are even more ridiculous. Plus, what happens when you get older and your skin starts to sag."
April 2005
"It is my opinion that most westerners get tatoos for the benefit of others, not themselves. They simply seek attention or a means of alerting others of their uniqueness, beliefs, or higher level of enlightenment (as evidenced by their dragon or yin and yang tatoo). In ancient times, tatoos and body modifications were earned and then bestowed by a respected member of society. Today, tatoos are shallow fashion accessories instantly converting suburbanites into Maori warriors and Mui Thai masters. I do not feel compelled to display for others my beliefs, my travels, my achievements, my loves, and my inspirations as they are mine alone and shared only with those who inquire. I would not presume that others care whether I am a Marine or a father or a son or a Catholic. I know who I am and those I care about know as well."
"Very interesting article, but may be too 'intelligently' written for people blinded by the 'exoticness' of Chinese/Japanese characters. Maybe add something explaining their options further (if you want 'strength' as a tattoo, why not get it in English in an interesting calligraphy? That way it's interesting, you know what it says for sure, and you're not insulting 2 billion or so people.)"
"my body is the temple of god no right to put any thing on it"
"I agree that research should be made before getting a tattoo of any culture. Firstly not to insult that foreign to you and secondly not to look like a fool by not even knowing what your tattoo is about. But that is not by any means reason enough to stop someone from getting a tattoo. It's something very personal and the really important thing is what it means to the one bearing it and not what it means based on social standards."
"There is so many interpretations of 'asian' symbol languages that a
Westerner without a background in that language could truly have a 'bad' symbol put on their body in error. A warning is very responsible on your part."
"Tattooing is a sacred and spiritual art that is the choice of the person. No persons' body belongs to anyone but themselves, regardless of the differing views of many of the worlds religion. In fact, most truly rich world religions/cultures (I don't mean the most popular per capita) include tattooing as a ceremonial right of passage. No one person or religion has a right to dictate whether or not this form of self expression is moral or not. It is a truly enlightened man who realizes that a man's beliefs are his own and not for us to judge! I have 2 tattoos by the way and plan on more to mark poignant moments on my life journey."
"Having tattoos done in a language you don't understand is a ridiculous affectation. Who's benefit is it for?"
May 2005
"It's good that people think carefully before getting tattoos. At the very least they should be sure that their tattoos don't say anything stupid or profane."
"I think it's a stupid shallow fad. I understand Japanese and seeing a car with the hiragana 'no' in no context across the street from where I live is embarassing."
"The article concisely explains the power of language in context, rather than excerpted bits of language out of context."
"It is absolutely correct. People who do not understand foreign languages or symbols, especially chinese characters should not foolishly brand themselves with what they do not understand."
"When I was getting my tattoo, a couple came in with a printout from some translation site of what they thought said, 'I love ___.' Had the tattoo artist not had any scruples, the recipient would have wound up with the Chinese equivalent of, 'I love eggs' on his skin for the rest of his life. Fortunately for our dim-witted couple the tattoo artist declined to apply the tattoo.
People, please think before getting a Chinese tattoo. Just because it 'looks pretty' or you think it has some mystical or esoteric meaning doesn't mean that every Chinese speaking person isn't going to laugh at you for having a pointless word in a stylized (most Chinese compare these fonts to a child's writing) font emblazoned on your skin. Unless, of course, you want to be laughed at by potentially over one billion people..."
"I think the 'Nonsense' article hits the matter straight on (and should perhaps be featured on the main 'Tattos' page):
Rather than coming off as angry Asians forbidding individuals to sport tattoos with foreign writings (that they don't understand), it's more realistic and caring to show them that our goals is simply to warn them against becoming laughing stock or to have the characters make an awkward first impression for them."
June 2005
"Why would you do anything permanent to your body? Having a child is the most permanent thing I can think of that I would be willing to do."
"I agree that many people put symbols on their bodies without considering what you have mentioned. I am looking to put my husbands name under a symbol which means eternity."
"I feel as though if people want to get tattoo, go ahead... who cares what it will look like when your older?... you only live once. If you plan to have a career that sees a tattoo as somewhat inappropriate... be smart and choose to put it somewhere where it won't be publically exposed.. it's simple, really... and our generation (i'm 22) sees them as fun and a way to express yourself!!"
July 2005
"The article has good warnings against short-sighted feelgood consumerism. It makes people think where they otherwise wouldn't.
I don't actually understand or appreciate what the atheist on one of the comments whines about. First, the Bible quotation is there to serve as an example, not to convert anynone. Were you to put quotes from 10 different wisdom traditions, it would still stand out and offend atheists. Who, by the way, reserve all rights to 'evangelize' people to their wonderful, flaunted non-believism."
"To make myself and others probably agree more with the atrical 'aword about tattoos' you should probably give good resons for getting the tattoos also and possibly some examples."
"I think the articles is very informative but tendencious. I think you should put
all the warnings to people be aware of waht they are thinking to do but instead
the article is trying to convince you of not having a tattoo at all."
"I'm not to fond of the religous part in here and it seem very one side and
unfair to state only one side. In may ethic and religous cultures there is
tattoos and piercings. Thou I do agree do research first don't just go and do it
or it could be something you regret."
"I have a chinese tattoo and the meaning has not changed yet."
August 2005
"The persons likes or dislikes may change, it's a risk anybody who is considering
a tattoo should consider but they can always pay to have it removed."
"I enjoy martial arts, chinese philosophy and chinese culture. I am familiar with
the fact of yakusa being tattooed. Still interested in translation."
"Getting permanent text that one can't understand is just absurd as an idea to
me."
"You are right, once you tatoo, it can not be removed."
September 2005
"I think it looks really stupid when someone with no connection to Chinese/Japanese culture has Chinese characters tattooed on themselves. It's just silly. I'm glad you discourage that. I do, however, disagree with the assessment of tattoos in general being a disrepect to one's body. Properly done, they can be quite meaningful and artistic. But yes--so annoying to see people with random characters tattooed on themselves."
"Your article does not give any actual helpful feedback (resources or help sites
etc.) it seems more geared towards wanting to stop the tattoos entirely rather
than be helpful."
"Would you tattoo that same word in Chinese/Japanese, whatever, in English in the
same manner? Most likely not, or it would already be there."
"I am continually amazed by people who get tattoos or even wear clothing that says something in a language they do not understand. It seems they are disrespecting both the other culture and themselves."
"Yes please update it based on what people think of tattos. I hate them!!"
October 2005
"You seem to have a great understanding of your point of view, but I think you
have only a limited understanding of mine.
There is goodness in tattoo, goodness that eludes the author of 'A Word About Tattoos'.
There was tattoo before written language."
"Think l have made a mistake, had a chinese tatto done trying to look up if it
says what its meant to, but can't find where to look."
"It is refreshing that you convey treating the only body you get with respect and
reverence :)"
"I didn't know that Chinese characters change so frequently."
November 2005
"Have more info on why you SHOULD get a tatt."
"I have always felt that tattooing and some forms of body modification are 'not
good' now I have a way to express the feeling better. 'Disrespectful' is exactly how I feel."
"For people who are Asian i know it is not uncommon to have your surname tattooed."
"My boyfriend is in jail and wants me on his body."
"They are common sense warnings."
December 2005
"It does make sense. Why would the meaning of a character change?"
"I personally like tattoos but I don't suffer fools gladly. To have something
wrong/foolish/subject to change permanently marked into one cannot be a good
idea."
"It is insulting to see these characters tattooed on non-Asian people, especially if they are gibberish. This means the person is shallow and only following a fad, and does not care anything for the culture the characters come from."
"Our bodies are beautiful creations from our parents and a gift from God. There
is no need to alter our bodies unless it is a medical necessity and our health
is at risk."
Back
|
