Early in our modern history, people who were exiled from Great Britain to the Australian Penal Colonies (a settlement where prisoners were transported to separate them from the general population) were sometimes tattooed with symbols intended to disgrace the prisoner; for example, D which stood for deserter (for abandonment of a military post). These prisoners often added to the tattoo in an effort to conceal the original design or to express rebellious or sardonic messages.

In Japanese history, full body tattoos were traditionally worn by members of the Yakuza (traditional organized crime syndicates; they called themselves “chivalrous organizations”). Their elaborate design and size of the tattoos showed who the wearer associated with. Around 600 AD these tattoos began to have negative connotations. Instead of being used for ritualistic purposes they were used to mark criminals, and this practice came to be mirrored by the Romans.

In North America today, there are many tattoo symbols that have come to mean something. For instance, the tattoo of three dots within a triangle (usually tattooed on the skin between the forefinger and the thumb) means ‘my crazy life’. Another famous tattoo among the Hispanics is the Pachuco cross which means ‘I need nothing’. This is similar in meaning to those worn by Vietnamese teens.

We all know what the famous gang related tear drop tattoo means (the wearer has killed someone); it could also mean that the wearer had a friend who was killed in prison. The tattoo of the ace of spades (with the A tattooed inside the spade) is associated with the Asian Boyz gang of California and so forth.

From the eighteenth century, the Catholic Church’s role in the disappearance of old traditions diminished, and in South America it even supported the local population. Bishops governed regions with special rules related to legal and social conditions.

The role of the Catholic Church was more conservative in the South Pacific. Additionally, Western influence increased the inhabitant’s awareness of alternative value systems. Younger islanders began resisting the painful tattooing procedure because it appeared to only be practiced locally, not internationally. On the islands with church mission stations that church was more influential in bringing about the decline in tattoos however most of the decline came from within.

As is typical of many Western and European attempts to “change” those unlike them, the missionaries tried to convince native women not to tattoo their bodies because “European women would never do such a thing.” Fortunately, the women were not to be so easily swayed; they felt that tattoos were necessary, even if limited to the face as a means of countering the signs of aging. In some instances, they informed the missionaries that their practices were the latest fashion, a statement that even Darwin admitted would have never been questioned if said in Paris! In Maori tattoos began symbolizing one’s individualism and independence. In some areas tattooed boys refused to attend school with non-tattooed boys, who were considered cowards.

By the time Darwin began his global travels tattoes were on the decline. As he noted, only older Tahitians had the traditional sock tattoo that was widespread at the time of the first contacts with the Europeans a century earlier. The most striking example of this was in 1812, when the explorer Von Langsdorff, visiting the Aleutian Islands, became the last Westerner to observe the local tattooing culture in that area.

Interestingly enough, the act of inserting pigment into the skin by pricking it was known as the “Polynesian Technique.” In the 1700′s and 1800′s little was written about the deep significance of tattooes and their meaning, in part due to the communication barriers that existed between Europeans and Pacific Islanders. Additionally, not all tattoo-related information obtained from the islanders was reliable; they tended to exaggerate some of their customs in order to impress or frighten the explorers.

Ironically, despite the efforts (and success) of many of the Catholic Church missionaries, it was the European mariners that helped spread the popularity of tattoos. They often returned home with tattoos and regaled audiences with their tales of bravery and endurance during the tattoo application process!

Don’t give in to peer pressure when selecting a tatoo design. Just because everyone else is doing it doesn’t mean you have to follow suit. Tattoes are meant to be unique; there’s nothing special about getting the same tattoo as a friend.

Also, try to avoid getting a tattoo of a romantic interest. Even if you’re married and get a dedication tattoo of your spouse you’re taking a chance that you might not always be together. Yes, it’s hard to think about but the divorce rate in the United States is around 50%. Think of the celebrities that have gotten tattoos of their loved ones only to later regret it. Some of them end up getting them either removed or covered up with some other design.

Think about the location for the tattoo. The most painful areas for getting tattoos are the sides of the lower back, the inner thigh area, the rib area, the inside of the upper arm, the center of the upper back. The area near joints tend to hurt a lot because of the amount of nerve endings in those areas. Also the skin above bones like the anklebone or the collarbone tend to be more painful for getting tattoos.

Tattoes are permanent markings that will probably be with you for the rest of your life. Choose wisely. Select a design that means something to you and that says something about you and your beliefs, goals, and/or values as a person. Select a design that complements your skin tone. Select a location that showcases a part of your body that you’re proud of or select a location that only you and special loved ones can see. You’ve got tons of choices out there so do your homework and get a design that you’ll be proud of for years to come.

For more information see also:

Laser Tattoo Removals

How Much Does a Tattoo Cost?

The Popularity of Lower Back Tattoos

Celtic Cross Tattoos-What Do They Mean?

Tribal Butterfly Tattoos

Glow in the Dark Tattoos

Eastern Dragon Tattoos

Eastern dragon tattoos have positive meanings. They depict compassion, benevolence, fertility, protection, intelligence, good will, and good fortune. Most eastern dragons are drawn as creatures of beauty. In China, shrines and temples have been built to honor them because some believe they control the lakes, rivers, seas, and rain. Some Chinese cities have pagodas where people still pray to eastern dragons and burn incense.

According to Chinese mythology eastern dragons were great consuls of powerful Chinese rulers. Although the eastern dragons were usually kind and wise, they were sometimes vain and became angry when their advice was not followed. They expressed their displeasure by causing natural disasters. The more powerful eastern dragons were able to create droughts or floods. Smaller dragons were believed to make roofs leak or cause rice to stick. To appease the dragons people would set off firecrackers or carry large paper dragons in parades.

Dragons were believed to represent the essence of life and have breath that was celestial, called sheng chi. Eastern dragons were believed to provide life sustaining water used not only for drinking but also for irrigating crops. In many ways dragons were believed to be similar to what we call Mother Nature. They were also considered to be symbolic of good fortune and have the ability to ward off evil spirits and protect the innocent.

Western Dragon Tattoos

Western dragon tattoos have more negative meanings. They depict greed, destruction, and chaos. They are usually drawn as bloodthirsty, fire-breathing creatures.

Overall, dragon tattoos are more popular with men than with women, perhaps because the dragon symbol is usually indicative of strength and aggression.

Here are some examples of dragon tattoos:

Abstract Patterns
Abstract tattoos tend to covers lots of body space and convey an overall love of the art of tattooing more than anything. They may have a common theme or uniformity. They often have more meaning for the wearer than the viewer.

Honor or Dedication Tattoos
These tatoo patterns tend to be associated with emotional messages. For example, heart tattoos, American flag tattoos, and military tattoos fall into this category. Tattoos of a loved one’s name fall into the dedication category as well.

Realistic or Natural Tattoos
Realistic and natural tattoos are those that attempt to portray a realistic imaging of forms taken from nature. These tattoos usually include lots of detailing and shading. The perspective is designed so the image looks as realistic as possible.

Simple Tattoo Patterns
Tattoos that fall into this category are flowers, animals, or cartoon characters. In general, the images may be somewhat stylized but shading is usually not involved. These tattoos are fairly straightforward and have clean, simple lines.

Tribal Tattoos
Tribal tattoos represent the most requested tattoo design. Ones to look for are Polynesian, Haida, Native American, and Maori. This category covers thousands of different subcategories, including aboriginal and indigenous. Purists believe that tribal tattoes should only be done in black ink only, because thousands of years ago black ink was the only “color” available for inking ones body. True tribal tattoos are created with a black outline with no shading or filler ink. Tribal tattoos have become very popular these days, especially amongst celebrities. The most common areas to place tribal tattoos are the arms and the back. Placing the tattoo on the ankle is also popular.

It’s important to do some research before you go to an ink shop to get a tattoo.

However, not all cultures embrace the popularity of lower back tattoos on women. Some cultures deem women with tattoos in that area to have lower moral standards. In Australia for example, lower back tattoos on women have been given the slang name “arse antlers.” In some parts of America these tattoos are called “tramp stamps”. In towns that border Mexico they’re sometimes referred to as “Tijuana License Plates.”

Why to Choose Lower Back Tattoos

There are several reasons why the lower back is often chosen to display tattoos. For one, the lower back has a lot of horizontal space, which makes it a nice area for showcasing fairly wide tattoos. Women of all sizes can get tattoos in this area. The lower back can accommodate tattoo designs of different types and look very attractive. Usually, tattoos in the lower back area follow this pattern, i.e., narrow on each side and larger (or fuller) in the middle. Here are some free lower back tattoos examples:

Additionally, tattoos located in the lower back area can easily be covered up. They aren’t as easily visible as those on the next, hands, or arms, so they don’t pose a concern for those seeking employment in more conservative environments or public settings.

Also, if the tattoo wearer gains or loses weight, the chance that the tattoo design may become distorted or “faded” is decreased.

However, there are some other issues you should consider before getting a tattoo in the lower back area. The most prevalent issue is pain. If you are someone that already suffers from lower back pain, do you really want to have someone poke a needle into that area? Also, people with lower back pain often find it painful to lie on their stomach for long periods of time. Getting a lower back tattoo can take hours to complete depending on the complexity of the design. This also makes them fairly expensive because of the size of the design.

Lower Back Tattoo Safety Concerns

Some practitioners warn against administering epidurals to pregnant women with lower back tattoos because they believe there is a risk of infection or they believe some of the tattoo ink could be introduced into the epidural space. As such, some anesthesiologists may give an epidural block to women in labor that have lower back tattoos. It is important to note that there have been no studies linking tattoo wearers to delivery complications but women may want to err on the side of caution. Pregnant women with lower back tattoos should discuss these issues with their doctors.

When properly (symmetrically) drawn and inked, lower back tattoos can be very sexy and stylish on women and can last for many years. However, as with any tattoo, consider how you’ll feel about it when you’re much older!

Several celebrities have lower back tattoos. Here are a few to check out:

Angelina Jolie

Dave Navarro

Eva Longoria

For more information on lower back tattoos and to see additional photos of designs see the articles below:

Lower Back Tribal Tattoos

Lower Back Tattoos of Butterflies