Tattoo Design Both Ancient and Modern

by: StevenMcCarthy
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The tattoo design has certainly come a long way since the first human marked his or her body for a ritual. Many of the early markings were to distinguish between clans or tribes but have since evolved into a pop cultural phenomenon. Soccer mom's sporting tattoos on their ankles and teenagers eagerly marking their body to show their transcendence from childhood into adulthood.

Japan's history of tattooing goes back to 10000 B.C.E. to 300 B.C.E. It was often used for healing, and even identifying a soldier should he perish on the battlefield and be stripped of his armor also to identify rites of passage for certain tribes. Perhaps the most familiar of Japanese body art is associated with the organized crime group the Yakuza. Much like the Italian Mafia, the Yakuza have long been affiliated with less than desirable elements of society. Anything from illegal gambling to racketeering is within its grasp.

A great surprise though, Is the tattoo design most often found on Yakuza members is that of beautiful scenes with elaborate details. The method used though is less than beautiful. Yakuza members, as a way to test their resolve and strength, do not get tattooed with a tattoo machine. It is a hand held instrument that is not without pain. The images are not just a back tattoo either. From collar to ankle they span the entire body.

Whereas in many cultures tattooing was solely reserved for warriors, the Egyptians practiced the art tattoo for women in service to the Gods and Goddesses. This spirituality is one of the more common reasons for tattooing. They believed that by paying homage with the body, it assured the wearer a more devoted retribution from their chosen deity and a greater chance for a rewarding afterlife.

For many the art tattoo represents a wilder side to their personality. Perhaps a bit of rebellion against the expected norms of a more staid and traditional society that looks upon a tattoo with wariness as the stigma associated with the art tattoo is not as widely spread to the more conservative. There are other individuals who use the tattoo as a means of remembrance for fallen family and friends or as a spiritual guide for their lives.

A note of caution concerning henna is the use of a product labeled as "black henna" or an indigo. Natural henna does not come in dark shades. The dark colors are actually made by combining henna with a chemical. There can be very harsh side effects such as skin blistering. As with any product, even a natural one such as henna, there can be allergic reactions.

Tattoos have been and will continue to be a means of expression. From the dragon tattoo to the star tattoo, it is a way for people to communicate with the outside world without saying a word. The tattoo design that is chosen is entirely, well at least most of the time, up to the person who wants to mark their body. It is their way of letting the world knows what they stand for, love or hate.

It is not uncommon for people to turn to the art tattoo artist to leave a work of beauty etched permanently onto their skin. Such television shows as TLC's Miami Ink show incredible works of art being tattooed. The human skin becomes the canvas for memorials of fallen loved ones or pictures of children and art work that have a lasting mark through the tattoo design on the person.

About the Author

Steven McCarthy has been studying the best ways to treat skin problems with tattoo skin care products and authored many papers on the topic so that quickly understanding skin care information is not something that has to be difficult for you. Check out www.treatingskinproblems.com  

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