Changes in Time Honored decorations

Woefully in other areas of the world, most of what was typified with Polynesian tattoos has been both lost over a period of time and also conflicts of different cultures and the error of intolerant religious and political systems.  In a tedious and alarming pattern, time honored decoration around the universe had been victim to these forces, usually without objection.

South Pacific Influences

The modern West was forever changed by the South Pacific when early adventurers and sailors alike wrapped this part of the attitude of Polynesia and transported tattoo natives and their own tattoos back with them.

Prohibiting Tattoos

The first Roman emperor, Constantine 1st, to declare Christianity prohibited tattooing of the human face in early 4th century.  This was done because it could be understood as a befoul of God’s likeness.  The same prohibition took place in Northern Europe at the Assembly of Calcuth in 787 and tattoos were also demoralized in many little ways.  The Christian world done this in an effort to deter paganism and superstition.

Belief of symbolism and ritualism

It was their belief that tattoos were related to symbolism and ritualism and that the new Christians were probably the victim.  A Roman historian named Herodian described observations of the 1st century were the animal body figures of the Celts.  These could have embodied either paintings or tattoos.  They were intentionally left revealed by their clothing.

Picts

This lead to the citizenry of northern Britain being called Picts after just such representations were displayed.  Julius Caesar in 55 B.C.E. described in his statement of the Gallic Wars, Norse, Danes, Gauls, Teutons, and Saxons that they all had customs of tattooing which focused on tribal symbols and families.  Tattooing was also alien in other past cultures of the European continent.  Greece and Rome belonging in the Mediterranean region also practiced this art form.  In societies such as these the art was connected with barbaric savages and tattoos were used to distinguish criminals, slaves and adventurers and on occasion used as a form of penalty.  In Latin the word “tattoo” means “stigma”

Tattoos used as artistic and spiritual

In Japan, China, Thailand, Burma, the Philippines and Cambodia tattoos are used as an artistic and spiritual endeavor.  In several parts of southeast Asia they are they represent religion.

Places such as Burma, Cambodia, Thailand, Philippines, Japan and China tattoos as an artistic and spiritual undertaking were pursued.  Tattoos are very much bound up in religion in places like Thailand.  Buddhist monks in Thailand are noted for the practice of receiving and giving tattoos along with offerings of talismans for a safe life’s journey and many prayers.   As an overall rule, tattoos serve a very similar purpose in many of these areas.  That purpose would be for “protection”.

Tattoos used for Protection

Protection from simply warding off ill luck to possessing mystical powers.  These symbols included ancient designs that were drawn from numerology, calligraphy, that of mythical ones such as dragons and the world of natural animals.  In China tattooing was reserved for punishment and at one time the same was true for Japan.  Despite previous non-penal use that has prehistoric roots.  Eventually, though, tattooing in Japan was brought to high levels of artistry.  This was spurred once again by influence in China.