When did tattoos become popular in China?

Due to the lack of literature, it is difficult to verify the exact origin of tattoos. However, judging from some unearthed cultural relics, the custom of tattooing can be traced back to the Middle Stone Age tens of thousands of years ago, and appeared at the latest in the late Neolithic Age. In China, tattoo totems left evidence in the relics of Yin Shang unearthed in Anyang. Mr. Li Ji, who organized and participated in the excavation in Anyang, said: "The two artworks discovered in Anyang caught my attention as soon as they were unearthed. A large stone trunk statue, carved with a pattern similar to tattoo marks; Bone handles (tāotiè, a legendary gluttonous beast, commonly found on bronzes for decoration, called gluttonous patterns) engraved with gluttonous faces are arranged from top to bottom. These two works of art have enabled me to find evidence of the existence of ancient tattoo customs and totem systems. " (Li Ji's An Yang, page 2 17-2 18, Hebei Education Press, 2000), the tattoo modeling of figures and monsters on Huaxia Online is also carefully drawn with reference to a series of ancient tattoo patterns.

There is a record about tattoos, "The Yuejueshu"? 6? 4. It is recorded in "Biography": "Zhu Jian, the king of Yue, hung down the seashore and was stabbed by Yi Di." "Mozi? 6? 4 Meng Gong: Yue Wang bowed and cut his hair and got a tattoo. " Zuozhuan? 6? Four years of mourning pointed out: "Taibo ... Zhong Yong inherited it, his tattoo was cut off, and he was naked for decoration. -haircut, tattoo, no clothes for decoration. Since the pre-Qin period, prisoners have had tattoos on their faces. In China's ancient books, there are already tattoos, sculptures, tattoos, sculptures and other words, and there are other examples of warning with tattoos, such as the story of mother-in-law's tattoo. But slowly the tattoo evolved into a personal decoration. For example, in Water Margin, one of the four classical novels, at least three important figures have tattoos: Hua Shang Lu.

Some punishments have a negative impression on tattoos, but in many cultures, tattoos are a symbol of social class and status. Including the Atayal and Xia Serbs in Taiwan Province province, aborigines all over the world have a tradition of tattooing their faces. In ancient Egypt, tattoos were even used to show social status. Victorian women in England are popular to tattoo red on their lips, which is similar to modern cosmetic methods of permanent makeup, such as tattooing lips and eyebrows.