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Why We Don't Do Tattoos |
| 1. Nonsense Chinese |
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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 |
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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.
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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
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| 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
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Survey started: July 20, 2004
Page last updated: January 1, 2006
7. If you have tattoos, what motivated you to get them?
"i like the way they look and i can express myself by using my body. i had always wanted tattoos growing up and i still continue to want more as i grow."
"The birth of my son he is the most important thing in my life. and worth at least giving a small part of my body too."
"no why just feel like"
"I wanted it."
"Fascination meaning"
"i like them, and they have a special meaning to me"
"to be unique."
"Have many no one answer pertains to them all. But as the old saying goes if your
body is your temple whats wrong with decorating the walls of your temple. My Moo
Duk Kwan tattoo is a constant reminder to dedicate my self tirelessly to my art."
"decoration"
"I always wanted one even before they become 'trendy'. Mine is situated in a very
personal place (not for public viewing)"
"They are all of things that mean a lot to me and have changed my life in one way
or another."
"Because I wanted to express myself in a way that those around me could enjoy as
well. I enjoy my art and want to keep it with me until I die."
"They are personally meaningful to me and I consider them a way of beautifying my
body. I don't find anything wrong with them morally and the subjects I choose to
portray with my tattoos are not immoral. I believe that it helps me to spread
the word about my faith and my other tattoo (a sunflower) keeps my loved ones on
my mind even though they're gone."
"Inspirational dreams."
"They're sexy. Getting a tattoo is a sexual experience for me..."
"pissing you off"
"i have kanji down my left arm and its for my daughters name and to let her know
she is far from being forgot"
"Experience, fun, and a memorie of what kind of person I was when I got it done"
"Each tattoo has a deep-rooted personal meaning. I my body as a canvas worth
painting on. Granted none of my tattoos are in areas that would affect my
professional career, and as such cannot be seen when in dress-casual to
professional attire."
"I chose to get my tattoos because of a connection that I felt with the items I
was having permanently drawn on my body. They express who I am, and help me to
remain mindful of my personal ideals. They aren't things that I flaunt, nor are
they visible in the course of normal daily life -- they are more for myself than
anyone else."
"I went out with some friends and we all got tattood. I got them as a reminder of
our friendship. So now when I see them I think of my friends. And I also got
them for my self I have always liked tattoos"
"To showcase my pride in my body."
"knew it would look good where it is, and unique to me as symbols where slightly
modified (tang mu)"
"I wished to possess some certain characteristics. I chose characters that are a
reminder that I do not always act with love, compassion, clarity, patience,
peace and wisdom."
"the beauty of them"
"expression"
"I admit, it was a 'cool' thing at first. Luckily, I chose something that I still believe in 10 years later. I think they are beautiful."
April 2005
"I have a tattoo of my husband's name on my upper chest, which I got to commemorate the bond that we share, my commitment to him, etc. (The usual 'lovey dovey' tattoo story.) As he is Japanese and I am an ESL teacher in Japan (someone familiar with the language to a reasonable degree), we both felt it would be a little ridiculous to convert his name into romaji and have *that* inked onto my flesh, just for the sake of avoiding a kanji tattoo fad. While I don't regret having the tattoo done (the meaning behind it will always be the same for me, after all), I often find myself hesitant (dare I say embarrassed?) to expose it in public (particularly when visiting the states), as I am immediately lumped into a societal category of gaijin morons sporting tattoos in a language they know nothing about.
I would encourage potential tattooees, specifically those seeking designs with Asian characters, to re-consider their motivations and possibly explore other options."
"I have a persistent illness of unknown origin, and getting a tattoo made me feel in control of my body again. I plan on getting another one when/if I finally beat my disease."
"love stupidity"
"It was something I wanted even as a child. I find tattooing an art of no
mistakes which makes the artist even more responsible and therefore even more
respectable. It's a painting of your feelings and inner world with your body as
the canvas."
"I have a tattoo to mark a time in my life of great change and growth. I plan on
having a few more tastefully well-hidden ones placed on me."
"Art is beautiful no matter where you display it as long as it is important to
and valued by you. I get a tattoo once a year and each one means something to me
wether someone else likes it or not. This is my body and this is how I choose to
display my thoughts or feelings. I am marking my body and not hurting or
effecting anyone else. If you don't like what you see, then don't look."
"Tattoos are very personal and the motivation is not something that needs to be
questionned."
"i have a tattoo of something meaningful to me and it's at a place that is easily
concealed (as I got it for me, no one else)."
May 2005
"I have a traditional native tattoo on my forearm. it's part of my culture and my
sister has one so i wanted to share that."
"I wanted one for a long time, then got them when I was old enough."
"My wife is Chinese. I had her name tattooed in Chinese on my arm. I already knew
how to write her name in Chinese, and I researched various fonts to make sure it
came out looking appropriate. I'm very happy with it, and she, although
initially skeptical, has grown to like it."
"I have always wanted a tattoo. When I got my 1st I was not a 'youth' I did wait until I was an adult and it was not a rash decision. I think they are sexy and a way to express yourself and your personality."
June 2005
"Marraige Commitment"
"I feel that when this questino is asked, most people want to hear a sappy answer
and they want the person to have a really good reason for getting the
tattoo... like a death in the family, big accomplishment, etc. I'll be truthful
about why I got my tattoo, and I'm proud of it. I loved the way a small tattoo
looked on the female lower back. It's not in a very exposed area... only when you
want it to be... I love it, I took the time to chose something that I really
wanted... chose a great, clean artist, and I think it is fantastic!"
July 2005
"I do not have them, but I have a perspective I've developed, seeing a handful of
people take tattoos. Like all body modifications, it gives one a simple way to
define one's personality and to remind oneself about one's chosen or adopted
personality. Even if that is just 'being cool.' I've heard (and this ought to be verified) that some indian warriors were tattooed by pictures of anything they hoped they would become like."
"I was fifteen and I want to get a tattoo on the small of my back I waited 3yrs
and it was a gremlin my nickname, one is my passion for frogs that ones on my
ankle, and the other is for heritage Celtic knotwork done in woad blue."
"Nothing."
"All my friends have flowers or butterflys and i wanted to be different."
August 2005
"My father has one and I liked his and it was of something that he liked to do,
so I got one of something that I like."
"Initially as a younger man in the US military it was a 'right of passage'. Later it was for the art or symbolism."
"Married and wanted matching tatoos."
"hate life"
September 2005
"I love the expression part of having tattoos on my body i can imagine art in my
image and work with artist o brings my ideas to life on my body for my personal
pleasure."
October 2005
"self expression & art"
"Love and Life."
"l think they look nice, lf you pick the right ones."
November 2005
"If I was to get a tatto it would to be a symbol of me. I would get the symbols
of daughter, sister, mother, and woman and then my son's name."
"I want it"
"none"
"A girlfriend and i went to lollapoluza the first year and were the first two to
get tattoos the olny year palloza had real tattoo artist i gave myself other two
first by the way is sun and ra is part of my name egyption sun god and secound i
did was butterfly and thats after a demon tried to strangle me but i had to much
light third tatto is a feather because im a freebird i believe tattoing and
piercing is a no no in chinese but in my world i believe my house is my body my
eyes are my windows and if i want to paint my home why not????"
"An important experience that I wanted to commemorate."
December 2005
"My main tattoo (on my inside ankle - deliberate choice for low visibility) is a
tribal marking from Morocco, where I spent many happy years. Done as deliberate
life-long souvenir.
My second tattoo (other ankle) was for silly fun and cannot be taken seriously."
"I was young and stupid and wanted to look like a yakuza, which I then thought
was cool in the way lots of teenage boys think gangsters are cool. Now, decades
later, I am ashamed of my youthful stupidity and regret marring my body this
way. But too bad, ne? I'm stuck with them 'til death. It was my choice to get
them, so I have to live with them, and with the shame of them."
"pain"
"To commemorate my life story."
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