tattoos and cultures

The Kalinga village of Buscalan sits high up in the Cordillera Mountains of northern Luzon, Philippines.

Miguel is a WWII veteran who earned most of his tattoos combating

Japanese forces.

The tattooing process begins with a stencil made from

a long piece of dried grass. Then, begins to hand-tap

in her backhanded style.

For thousands of years, the elephant has played a significant role in the history and

culture of Southeast Asia. Used in transport, construction, and war, the elephant, much like the domesticated horse in the Western world, is credited with helping build many Asian countries like Thailand while at the

same time defending them from marauding invaders over the centuries.

A new group of initiates undergo two months of

seclusion in the “spirit house” before they

receive the marks of the crocodile.

 The skin-cut tattooing customs of the Makonde people of Mozambique

The revered warrior Gormari is the most decorated Hamar man, he claims more than three kills.

“When I was getting my first scars, the process was extremely painful. But I couldn’t show my fear. I wanted people to know

that I was a killer! I would insult myself under my breath if I

winced while being cut.”

Beauty marks of the Hamar woman. One Hamar woman stated, “When you bleed, you lose weight and become weak. But the women still get scars, not

because we are forced to, but because we want to.”

A blacksmith fits a young girl with her first iron collar

Xingu chiefs and shamans often wear jaguar-skin

headbands, armbands, or belts to associate

themselves with this powerful predator.

The art of tattooing has emerged along with the development of the human race. One of the oldest tattoos was found to be engraved on the back of a man who was buried on the slopes of the Alps. The research later suggested that his body was buried there 5 thousands years ago. This suggests that people have always been fascinated by this art.

INDIA

A lady from Gondwanaland with the word "Rama“

written all over her face and on her clothes.

Tattoo’s in India are an ancient custom. One clue to its apparent antiquity may be found in comparing petroglyph designs of labyrinths to tattoos of similar design.

A rock art site dated 2500 B.C. on a riverbank at Pansaimol, Goa

A labyrinth dated 1000 B.C. inscribed on a dolmen shrine at Padugla in the Nilgiri Hills

Celebrities and their tattoos

Popular tattoo shows on TV