Tattoos as a Tribute to the Past and Art Form for the Future

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Would you ever get a tattoo? The idea of puncturing your skin to create intricate designs has been around for thousands of years and ingrained in the traditions of cultures all around the world. But it hasn’t always been as socially acceptable as it is today. In fact, in many cultures, they used to signify gang association and crime.

Today, tattoos are a common sight. It can change the way people view you. It’s often more than an aesthetic choice; it’s a way to pay tribute to the person you were and express who you are now.

We spoke with two parents in Beijing who are both deep in the world of body art as they share their views, advice, and the stories behind their ink. 

Something to Honor a Period of Your Life

My high school, Western Academy of Beijing (WAB), is known as a place that values self-expression. It’s not unusual to see teachers – and even students – proudly displaying their tattoos. But for something so personal and obvious, few of us actually bother to ask questions about them.

English teacher David Jordan didn’t get his first tattoo until his mid-thirties. It’s a traditional Māori tattoo, called a moko, which stretches from his shoulder and down his arm.

“As you can imagine,” he says, “as a foreigner and someone of European descent, that can be a little problematic. Some might even call it cultural appropriation.”

Until you hear the rest of the story.

In 2010, Jordan was living in Christchurch, New Zealand when the city was hit by a massive earthquake. He remembers the aftershocks that kept going and going and the screams of his students as they rushed to get them to safety. “We as a community were completely debilitated,” he tells me.

In the wake of the earthquakes, Jordan attended a major community event where a Kaumātua (Māori spiritual leader) introduced them to the concept of “whānau.” In Māori culture, whanau means family, and the larger community of people who make home, home.

“Whānau looks after whānau,” he tells me. We’re in this together. It was the idea of whānau that helped the city and himself get through the disaster.

That’s when he decided to get a moko, which tells a story of heritage and commitment. He says “It’s an expression of your relationship with your spirit and the people around you, [and your ancestry. It’s knowing who you are, and where you came from].” Jordan knew that if he were to get it done, he’d have to do it right.

He was conscious of Māori traditions and had multiple discussions with Māori teachers and students on how to do it and whether or not it’d be okay for him to get one done. When he did, he chose the traditional way. Unlike regular tattoo parlors, the artist doesn’t sketch the tattoo out. There’s no knowing what the finished piece will look like. The artist listens to your story and inks it directly onto the skin.

His tattoo is a tribute to his family history and the sacrifices they made to allow him to leap into the world. Jordan says it’s “a story of what makes me, me.”

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Tattoo artist Belle Gui and son

A Form of Beauty and Self Expression

Belle Gui is a Beijing tattoo artist and mom to a beautiful little boy. She’s among the first generation to embrace the novelty since tattooing became socially acceptable in China.

Despite the growing popularity of tattoos, it’s still unusual to see someone display as many as she does, all over her arms and legs, on her neck, and down her back. Gui admits she gets a lot of attention for them, though she likes to think it’s because people also consider them beautiful. She doesn’t mind their curiosity and says it’s normal for people to stare. She’d stare too, if she saw someone else with tattoos like hers. What bothers her is when people quietly judge her out of the corner of their eyes.

Gui got her first tattoo at 18 with her boyfriend. The tattoo in question is a barcode on the nape of her neck with the words “made in China” below it. At the time, she said, it had seemed cool and patriotic. Even though she admitted to considering a cover-up tattoo, she does not regret getting it, she just doesn’t consider it as “beautiful” anymore. In the end she kept it, after her boyfriend passed away in an accident, as a way to remember him.

When Gui began her career as a tattoo artist in 2007, her parents were very much against it. But after many explanations and discussions, they are now more supportive. She says that her parents are traditional, but as the years go by, she’s beginning to see more and more older people and parents come in for tattoos. As a form of art and self-expression, she believes tattooing will only become more popular.

Advice to Parents and Young People on Getting Tattoos

With the stigma around tattoos decreasing, more and more young people are getting tattoos themselves. Which sparks the question – at what age is it acceptable to get tattoos? And what would you do if your kid wants them?

Jordan says his son already wants tattoos. Granted, he’s only three and marveling at the tales his father tells him about the koi fish jumping to become a dragon on his father’s leg.

His best advice is to have an honest conversation with your children and listen to why they want the tattoo. It’s okay to disagree, and like anything else, the child will grow up and one day decide for themselves. He’d much rather the child understands his point of view and feels listened to.

His worry isn’t of young people not being mature enough, but the credibility of the artist. If someone is willing to tattoo underaged kids, what other safety steps would they be willing to skip?

According to Jordan, kids don’t get enough credit for their ability to make decisions for themselves. He says the moment a young person is able to think of themselves as their own selves, know what they want to do with their own bodies, and acknowledge the sacrifices they will need to make – such as the pain, time, money, and the possibility of regret – he would consider them ready.

Similarly, Gui says she’ll definitely support her son if he grows up to want tattoos. But only if she gets to give him his first one. After that, she’ll recommend him tattoo artists based on his personal style and preference. She also discourages getting tattoos before 18, but not for the same reasons as Jordan. A  child may not have fully developed their own sense of beauty yet and they should consider all options and learn as much as they can about tattoos first. After all, it’s a lifetime commitment.

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Photos: Uni You, Unsplash 

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