Tattoos from Then to Now
- jordancasciato
- Aug 12
- 5 min read
Hello all! I have been learning a lot here at Speakeasy Tattoo under Scott’s guidance here in El Sereno California. During my time here in the Los Angeles area I have been studying tattoo history and its significance.
The progression of tattoos throughout time ranges from scarification to traditional hafted chisels and punishments to decorative art. Each civilization had their own method of body art and modifications with their own respective rituals and traditions to obtain them.
An early form of body art came in the form of scarification. “The scars (cicatrices) that remain can form raised lumps known as keloids,”(Rivers). The keloids would be arranged in decorative patterns over large areas of skin. This was practiced largely in Africa as scarification was more effective than tattooing on dark pigmented skin. African scarifications represented the stages in a person’s life as well as a group identity.
Preserved body modifications start with “Otzi the iceman” or at least Otzi the iceman is the oldest preserved skin that presents evidence of tattoos. Belonging to the fourth millennium BCE, Otzi was found encased in ice with sixty one tattoos. From the copper age, he was found with his body art, a copper axe and preserved clothing accidentally by hikers in 1991.
The method of early tattooing is evident in Early Austronesian practices. These practices progressed tattooing with their invention of tattooing tools. The Austrioneasian hafted tattooing technique “involves using a small hammer to tap the tattooing needle or a group of needles inset perpendicular to a wooden handle. The handle gave the needle stability and made it easier to maneuver while tapping moved it rapidly in and out of the skin,” (Moss). These needles were typically made of wood, horn, bamboo, ivory, metal, or thorns. Another early technique practiced by the Lumad and Negrito people in present day Philippines involved using a hafted chisel or small knife to make small dash incisions into the skin and then the wounds were rubbed with pigment.
In pre-colonial Canada, Inuit women would receive facial tattoos based on life events such as their first menstrual cycle or childbirth. When missionaries arrived in Canada in the 1700s the Inuit markings were banned and deemed evil. Now, there is a resurgence of women reclaiming traditional intuit markings after their people endured genocide.
During the Zhou Dynasty (1111-771 BC and 770-256 BC) in China tattoos were used as a form of punishment. This was called “Zong” or “Mo Punishment.” If a person committed an offence they would be punished by getting tattooed on their face. As time progressed and the Southern Song Dynasty came about, there were three types of tattooing in China. There was military tattooing focusing on bravery and strength, loyalty tattoos, and mo punishment tattoos.
In Japan, tattooing was called “irezumi” which translates to “insert ink.” The first evidence of tattooing in Japan came from the 5th century. Japanese tattoos ranged from punishment to art to superstition. “While the earliest recorded history of tattoos is from the 5th century, a 3rd century Chinese account describes how the Japanese would tattoo themselves in order to demarcate social classes, or sailors would apply them as protection against sea monsters,” (Fordham). In the 5th century, prisoners would receive tattoos as punishment and then would cover the prisoner tattoo up with a larger more decorative piece to avoid the shame of being branded a prisoner. When Confucianism became popular in Japan, tattoos were not accepted due to the Confusian belief that body modifications were disrespectful to the wearer’s parents. It was only until the 19th century when tattoos were deemed, “a sign of barbarism that did not fit in with a modern civilization. Therefore, in 1872, the Japanese rulers issued a national ban on tattoos,” (Fordham). This was due to the fear of being colonized and wanting to present a civilized society. After the ban, tattoos lived on in Japan in the Japanese mafia known as the Yakuza.
In Taiwan the tradition of Paiwan hand tattooing ran strong for many years. Today, “the indigenous Paiwan people of southern Taiwan has nearly vanished,” (Krutak). These hand tattoos depict social status, spiritual protection and the afterlife. These tattooing customs halted during the Japanese occupation of Taiwan in 1895 - 1945, were revived for two years and then prohibited again once the Chinese Nationalist government took control of Taiwan. These hand tattoos were important for one to experience death. The passage to the afterlife was dependent on the hand tattoos to protect them from evil spirits and for the Ancestral spirit to recognize their social class by their markings.
Spaniards arrived in the Philippines and found “Pintados” or “painted men.” During this time, Prince Giolo was purchased as a slave in Mindanao who then became part of an art exhibition in England making him living artwork. Tattoos here were possessed by warriors and the different tattoos they had signified how experienced in battle they were. Face tattoos were reserved for the most skilled warriors. Women would also possess tattoos to increase their beauty and their fertility.
Tattooing in the United States was picked up from sailors visiting the Polynesian islands and other locations previously mentioned. During the Civil war, soldiers started getting tattoos so that their bodies would be identified by the names of their loved ones or military insignia in the event of their death. An artist named Martin Hildebrandt grew in popularity during this wartime and eventually established the first tattoo shop in the US in New York City at 36 1/2 Oak Street in Lower Manhattan in 1870. On December 8, 1891, Samuel O’Reily was issued a patent for the very first electric tattoo machine,”(Hettich). During the time of fully tattooed freak shows in circuses, a woman named Mildred Hull taught herself to tattoo and with the income from the circus and eventually opened up her own tattoo shop. She was the first woman to open up her own tattoo shop in the United States.
It wasn’t until the 1940s where American traditional tattoos were truly born. “Norman Keith Collins, AKA Sailor Jerry, played a huge part in establishing the American Traditional way of tattooing. As a Honolulu based war veteran, Collins combined what he’d learned from American, European, and Japanese tattooing to establish a whole new style. After becoming enamored with Japanese tattooing, Norman wrote to these eastern masters and exchanged techniques and tracings,”(Hettich). At this time the main clientele was still sailors and soldiers. Tattooing didn’t hit mainstream until the 1970s where the hippie wave encouraged peace sign tattoos and bodysuits. The 1990s allowed tattoos to become mainstream with the punk rock phase and celebrities getting more tattoos.
Nowadays, tattoos have become much more accepted among the public eye with magazines like “Inked” and reality TV such as “Ink Master.” Instagram has also played a huge part in making it easier for artists to share their work and get recognized whereas it used to be a more closed off private world. With the more accepting world of tattoos in the public eye today, many have reclaimed their heritage and ancestral spirituality. The revival of almost lost traditions grows stronger and gains following with today's social media. Social media may have made the present day tattoo world a whole new environment but at least it does some good in empowering those who seek reclamation.
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