SMART TATTOO PLACES: August 2009

The Chinese Dragon Tattoo Experience

Are you contemplating in getting a dragon tattoo and yet still undecided in what specific design to use? Well this article may sway your decision in favor of the Chinese dragon tattoo. A dragon is a mythical creature that plays a significant part in the Chinese history and culture. The dragon signifies mystical and lordly dominance and are said to be living in majestic divine kingdom. According to legends, they can also change shape and form and can create cloudbursts at their will.

With dragons being so popular and revered in the culture of China, it is even assumed that the Chinese people are dragon descendants. Another affirmative impact of dragons in China is the belief that dragons have the pearl of wisdom. Soon enough the pearl of wisdom possessed by dragons represents the pureness of the thoughts of the king and the flawlessness of his decrees.

Even in religion, dragons have a big role. In Chinese Buddhism, the dragon is the protector of Buddha as well as the laws of Buddhism. Dragons are etched on both on tomb walls and temple doors. They provide shield to any evil spirits that lurks around these places.

These are just some of the wondrous characteristics of the Chinese dragon. If you think you are somehow in parallel with these powerful features then the Chinese dragon tattoo is for you, a Chinese dragon tattoo that portrays a sense of loyalty and dedicated among others. You never know, the magic of the Chinese dragon can stroke your life with strength and power.

Chinese Tattoos - Your Piece Of An Enchanting History

Spend a few minutes surfing the net for information on Chinese tattoos and you will quickly notice a recurring theme warning the would be tattoo recipient to ensure they know someone reliable who can accurately translate the meaning before they just go ahead a slap one on. There is even an entire blog dedicated to the misuse of these characters. Makes you wonder about all the times you wondered into a tattoo artist's workshop and flipped through the hundreds of Chinese tattoos available looking for that perfect one which symbolized your life on this planet.

Anyone who has ever thought of getting a tattoo has considered the option of a Chinese tattoo or for that matter a Korean or Japanese tattoo. Their mystery, sleek design and hidden meanings draw on our curiosity like moths to a flame. We picture friends and strangers asking with keen interest about our decision behind such a choice, which may even lead some people to create elaborate stories about their own life.

There is an endless mythical history in Asian cultures, it's no wonder Westerners are drawn to these types of tattoos, Chinese designs being the most popular and sort after around the world. Part of the interest, one would guess, is how unique each character seems and so the chances of someone else having the same one is unlikely. The fact that they also look cool doesn't hurt either.

Making the perfect, meaningful choice

Chinese tattoos are available in many different designs because the language is made up of thousands of characters rather than the few letters in the English alphabet. It may not be necessary to say it but if you choose to get a permanent tattoo, Chinese or not, it is exactly that, permanent. It is certainly not a decision to be taken lightly or one you should be making impulsively.

If it is a story you are looking for then take the time to talk with a friend who knows some Asian history and who understands the culture and language. It would be in your best interest before getting your Chinese tattoo, to do as much research as possible. Imagine the sheer horror of having a Chinese symbol tattooed on your arm or the small of your back only to find out it has some perverse or trivial meaning when you thought it actually meant something along the lines of love, peace or hope.

One of the ways to avoid this could be to decide on a word or phrase or even your name you would like to get a Chinese tattoo of and get it translated into characters or symbols. This will ensure accuracy and of course uniqueness.

The Chinese culture has evolved over thousands and thousands of years and such deserves the respect of a little forethought when considering a Chinese tattoo rather than a decision based on whether your favorite celebrity has one or not.

Tattooed Pictures

Various style of people being tattooed.

Chinese Tattoos - Five Crucial Mistakes To Avoid

Chinese tattoos that include authentic characters and symbols can form the basis of beautiful designs which carry a deep and personal meaning.

But due to the complex nature of Chinese writing it's extremely easy to end up with a permanent embarrassment trapped under your skin unless you take a few basic precautions. So to help you avoid these Chinese tattoo disasters, here are the top five mistakes to look out for;

1) Mistranslation

Chinese writing is very complex and carries many subtle meanings. It's extremely easy to end up with something unexpected written all over your skin. Here are two classic example of these "misunderstandings" that I've heard about recently;

a) A woman wanted a Chinese writing tattoo, but she knew about the dangers of mistranslation. So she went in to a local Chinese restaurant and asked one of the waiters to write out the Chinese characters for the word "free". He duly obliged and she took the design to a tattoo artist who provided her with the tattoo of her dreams.

Unfortunately, he didn't understand what the design meant and the word "free" has two meanings in English. It can mean freedom, which was the meaning that the lady wanted, or it can mean free of charge.

And you can guess which version the waiter translated into Chinese symbols!

So she ended up with the words "free of charge" tattooed on her skin. And when she discovered the mistake it cost her almost $1,000 to get the tattoo removed.

An expensive misunderstanding!

b) A women with a Chinese tattoo was under the impression that the symbols said "love birds". Wrong! Due to a mistranslation it meant one of three things, that she loves birds, that she is a bird lover, or that she loves the male reproductive organ.

A slightly extreme example, but it shows you the mistakes that can happen and the amount of embarrassment that they can cause.

2) Poor Quality Designs

Chinese writing is extremely complicated so the design of your tattoo has to be precise otherwise the meaning will be lost. One slight alteration or a missed stroke can completely change the meaning of the design.

Unfortunately, due to a combination of poor quality tattoo designs and western artists who try to add their own style to the Chinese characters, thousands of people end up with Chinese tattoos that are incorrect and meaningless.

3) Not Knowing What They Mean

I know this might sound unbelievable, but you'd be amazed at the number of people walking around who don't know the meaning of their Chinese tattoo.

But tattooing is a form of self expression, and if you don't know what your design means it becomes rather pointless. So if you plan to get a Chinese character tattoo, make sure that you know what it means before the treatment begins.

4) Misalignment

Chinese characters become meaningless if they are applied upside down or back to front. But this mistake is often made by tattoo artists who don't understand the symbols that they are using. Once they lose track of which way round the designs should be used, it's just luck whether your design is applied correctly.

End result? Another meaningless embarrassment.

5) Standard Tattoo Parlour Designs

Most tattoo studios offer hundreds of Chinese symbol designs to choose from. The different options fill binders and walls in tattoo parlours all over the world. Unfortunately, many of these designs have been wrongly translated or have missing strokes which renders them meaningless. And even if the design that you choose is correct, there will be thousands of people around the world with the same design.

If you want a Chinese writing tattoo that enhances your individuality it's important to avoid these standard designs and get a native Chinese speaker to create a custom design which will express your own personal values.

Ben Commemorates the Cat and the Tree

Ben recalls wandering off one day when he was four years old. He was up in Wells, Maine with his family and no one knew where he'd gone.

Fortunately for Ben, someone did know: the family cat. A la Lassie, the feline led his parents straight to Ben, who was sitting under a tree, munching on blueberries.

To this day, Ben regards this as a crucial moment in his life when he was saved by the cat.

He collaborated with Brendan Rowe at Pins and Needles Tattoo in Portland, Maine to come up with a commemorative tattoo to honor this animal:

Brendan is now working out of Unbreakable Tattoo is Studio City, California.

The tree nearby on his left forearm, was inked, in part, to complement the cat: