Good resource to find the meanings of tattoos?

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Try googling for the maouris of Australia and New Zealand. try researching the history of the Spanish Inca's or the religion of Buddha. All of these have tattos ingrained in their cultures. Originally tattoos are a a mark of change, similiar to a right of passge it could be said. try researching some cultures that practice right of passge for adolescent males, African tribes would be good for this type of study.

Look for any book that deals with customs and traditions of native American Indians

Tattoos - A History The Background and History of Tattoos Lies in Many Cultures Tattoos, the designing and decorating of the skin by using an ink filled needle has literally been around for thousands of years. In fact, the word for tattoo is Tahitian and comes from the word ?ĺtatu?Ĺ which simply means to mark something, which is exactly what tattoos are all about. And while tattoos began thousands of years ago they still possess many similarities to the tattoos being applied today. While history states the first recorded instance of tattoos was in ancient Egypt it without a doubt began many years before that. However, the popularity of tattooing among the Egyptians spread with their empire to Crete, Persia, Arabia, and Greece. The popularity of tattoo designs spread to China as well around 2000 BC. The historical aspect of tattoos is quite amazing as well and although each culture used tattooing for different purposes, each had a reason. Tradition and culture play a significant part in the history of tattoos as well. For example, Borneo women had tattoos placed on their forearms which were indicative of their particular trade. This was beneficial to the women because it advertised their profession and where they ranked in the scheme of society and their marriage prospects were greatly increased if they were skilled labor. Sometimes, however, tattoos were used for more practical purposes like to simply ward off illness and disease. These tattoos were placed on the wrists or around the fingers, similar to bracelets or rings, to fight off sickness and spirits of illness. Throughout history the use of tattoos has indicated an individual?Ĵs association to a particular group or clan. Hells Angels, the Bloods, Black Panthers, the Nazis, and plenty of other famous groups, clans and gangs have tattooed their group?Ĵs symbol on parts of their bodies to signify their participation or beliefs. For example, the Romans used tattoos to indicate individuals who were slaves or criminals while the Greeks implemented the art of tattooing for communication between spies. Many African tribes are famous for their full body tattoos that indicate their membership to a particular tribe, skills, and accomplishments as a warrior. In the Americas tattoos were used by the ancient Aztecs, Mayas, and Incas in rituals while Alaskan Indian tribes also used tattoos similar to those of the Ainu in western Asia. The Ainu used tattoos to display social status and when girls reached the age of womanhood they received their societal tattoos as well. The Ainus also introduced the art of tattooing to Japan, where tattoos became part of religious ceremonies. Also, many warriors of the Danak tribe received a special tattoo when they beheaded an enemy. The West also took part in the art of tattoo designs and popular tattoos were family crests, amazingly a popular practice today. However, the Pope had significant power of individuals and banned tattooing in 787 AD. Of course, tattooing was still very popular in England and other western cultures despite the Pope?Ĵs decree. Nevertheless, when the Normans invaded Britain in 1066 the trend of using tattoos began to decline because the Normans looked down on tattoos. As a result, Western culture lost the art of tattooing for several centuries. However, during this time tattoo designs were still very popular across the rest of the world. For example, while tattooing disappeared from Western culture it surged in Asian culture, especially Japan. The Japanese were following suit of the Romans and tattooing criminals. There were three strikes, or tattoos, that were tattooed on a criminal?Ĵs forehead. The three tattoos together formed the Japanese symbol for the word dog. Other types of full body tattooing became very popular in Japan as well among the middle class in reaction to the law that only royalty were allowed ornate clothing. Tattoos remained popular throughout the world and it was only a matter of time before they caught on in Western culture again. It was around the 1700s before the West was introduced to tattoo art again. William Damphler, a sailor, sailed to London with a Polynesian man whose entire body was covered in tattoos. The tattooed mans name was Prince Giolo and soon changed to simply ?ĺThe Painted Prince?Ĺ. He became a local attraction and people paid money to see him. This re-introduction to the art of tattoos came after approximately 600 years after tattoo art?Ĵs popularity died away. A similar event took place in the late 1700s as well in London, this time with a different tattooed Polynesian, and this sparked the upper class to get small, discreet tattoos for some time. This was a fad for a short time simply because the art of tattoos was painful and took a long time to receive because each puncture was made by hand. However, a new invention would soon make the art of tattooing all the rage again in the West. More Recent History American Thomas Edison invented a tattooing machine; however it was not popular with the commercial market. Then, in 1891 Samuel O?ĴReilly invented a tattoo machine that was motor powered and set the stage for the tattoo machines we know today. Although today?Ĵs tattoo machines are significantly faster than the one invented by O?ĴReilly, the technology is still very similar. Today?Ĵs machines involve a hollow needle, as O?ĴReilly?Ĵs machine did, that is powered by a motor which allows the needle to make up to 3000 ink filled punctures approximately 1/8 inch below the skin?Ĵs surface each minute. However, this made tattoos readily available and the lower classes began getting them in record numbers. Soon, the idea of a tattoo left an image of dangerous, sleazy and undesirable people and it would be years before tattoos made a comeback with middleclass Americans due to the Depression and the basic underground tattoo industry. Then, World War 1 broke out and more people began getting tattoos that were patriotic or family related and soon tattooing became associated with the Armed Forces. Then, in the ?IJ60s Hepatitis became a high risk factor for tattoos as well as other diseases and Americans once again turned their noses at tattoos. However, tattoos made a comeback yet again and the ?IJ90s and 2000s have seen an unbelievable respect for the art and young people all over the world getting inked. While the use of tattoos is wide and varies from culture to culture individuals today frequently use tattoos to indicate their personal feelings or kinship to various animals, figures, and the like. Today?Ĵs tattoos are a way to increase one?Ĵs individuality and show off to the whole world. Also, today?Ĵs tattoo trends include tattoos similar to ancient tattoos and tribal designs which are now considered ?ĺcool?Ĺ as well as Asian letters, butterflies, fairies, stars, suns, hearts, flowers, names, skulls, crossbones, flags and basically anything you can possibly imagine. Today?Ĵs tattoo designs are as varied as the world?Ĵs population.

Tatts are personal and mean diff things to the person wearing them.