by Michael Arcand

Created on: July 25, 2007   Last Updated: July 26, 2007

The tattoo, or permanent drawing on the body of an individual, is practiced around the world today. It is popular not only in the post-modern, civilized world, but also in third-world countries as well. In this article we will take a closer look at the history of the tattoo.

The ancient art of body art is believed to have been practiced as far back as prehistoric times. In the early 20th century several mummies were discovered with tattoos appearing on various portions of their bodies. These mummies dated back to the prehistoric period and were found in vast permafrost of northern China. Chinese literature also shows an interest in the body art practice, as found in the classic Water Margin'. Several characters in this novel were depicted as having tattoo body art.

On the European continent, tattoos were commonly seen before the onset of the Christian era. Most of the tribes that overtook the continent after the defeat of the Roman empire displayed tattoo body art. However, after the spread of Christianity through the area, the practice of body art declined, as it was generally seen as a pagan practice, and as a forbidden art form according to the original Hebrew Bible. During this time, the main carriers of the traditions of tattoo and body art were found to be the slaves.

One interesting anomaly that stands out in the history of the tattoo is found on the island of Samoa. When discovered in the 18th century by visitors from the European continent, it was found that the native inhabitants did not wear any garments at all. Instead of the wearing of garments, they simply had tattoos on the lower half of their body to appear as garments. These tattoos were required before the men could be accepted properly into their society. It appears that the traditions behind these tattoos and the skills required to complete them have been passed down from generation to generation for several thousand years. As was done in Europe, Christian missionaries attempted to discourage the practice of body art, but were unsuccessful in weeding out such a deeply entrenched tradition.

In modern times, the art of the tattoo has continued it's long legacy. Primarily as a sub-culture of it's own, the tattoo has come to be identified with some of the more hard-core individuals, such as bikers, members of the military, and the criminal element. As an art form, tattoos have outlasted many other forms of art and communication, and it is a sure bet that this form of body art will as a practice world wide well into the future.

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