The main reason that laid the foundation for traditional American tattoos is that Americans have participated in almost every war since the American Revolution in 1775, and tattooed soldiers and sailors often appeared when participating in these wars.

Sailors were the first to revive the practice of tattooing in the West, maintaining close ties with the cultures of Polynesia and Southwest Asia who believed tattooing acted like a symbolic act of defense against misfortune at sea.

Therefore, they chose to tattoo some symbols of maritime culture on their bodies, or to carry their beloved women and longing for their families on their bodies. There were also many soldiers who chose tattoos because they were afraid that they would not be able to identify themselves after death. All these factors had an impact on the late 19th century. The American tradition of tattooing that was beginning to take shape had a great impact.

He was also one of the pioneers in using autoclaves to sterilize his equipment and promoted the use of disposable needles.

I saw in this painting the curiosity and exploration of wounds. Different from the grandeur of traditional religious paintings, this painting seems deviant but reveals the existence of divinity in the details.

From here, the traditional art form continued to develop and take on more practical purposes. Many tattoos were used to identify sailors if they fell overboard or drowned.

Sailors would get tattoos at the different ports they sailed to. These tattoos symbolize different destinations and the length of the journey. A turtle tattoo means that a sailor has crossed the equator, while a swallow tattoo symbolizes a journey of 5,000 miles.

Otzi the Iceman was discovered in September 1991. His nickname comes from the place where he was discovered, in the Ozar Alps. His body has been naturally mummified and preserved, making him the oldest mummy in Europe.

Otzi has a total of 61 tattoos on different parts of his body, with most of the ink inscriptions on his legs. A closer look at the patterns on the mummies reveals that the tattoos were caused by soot or fireplace ashes.

In ancient Chinese literature, folk heroes and bandits had tattoos. In addition, it is quite common for convicted criminals to have facial tattoos. This tattoo is used to warn other members of society that the person cannot be trusted.

In Samoa, the tradition of giving and receiving tattoos by hand goes back over two thousand years. The techniques and tools used in this tradition have also changed little during this time. This skill is passed down from father to son.

The tools used for tattooing are handmade, turtle shells and boar teeth. The process of receiving a traditional tattoo takes several weeks to complete. Tattoo ceremonies often commemorate a young chief's promotion into a leadership role in society.

Once the tattoo is completed, it represents great stamina and dedication to culture. These tattoos are extremely painful, and the entire process carries a significant risk of infection. Unfortunately, those who cannot tolerate pain are forever branded with a stigma.

A famous example of the use of tattoos by the ancient Greeks was when the Athenians tattooed owls on their bodies after defeating the Sami. Evidence suggests the use of the verb "stizein" meaning to stab in ancient tattooing.

There is also evidence of tattoos on soldiers and weapons makers throughout ancient Rome. It is believed that this practice continued into the 9th century. In ancient Rome, slaves would also have tattoos on their bodies to show that they had paid taxes.

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“Japanese Tattoos: History, Meanings, Symbolism & Designs.” Tattmag, 30 Mar. 2020, tattmag.com/japanese-tattoo/.

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Shevchenko, Nikolay. “6 Unwritten Rules “Thieves-In-Law” NEVER Broke.” Russia Beyond, 12 Jan. 2023, www.rbth.com/history/335781-thieves-in-law-rules-of-life.

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Blackwork originated from tribal tattoos. Tribal tattoos are often represented by totems formed by lines. The way to distinguish tribal tattoos from blackwork is also very simple. Blackwork tattoos can be any black pigment tattoos, but tribal tattoos will definitely use symbolic symbols and other characteristics.

Regarding this kind of punishment, there is a record in "Zhou Li·Si Xing": After the sentence "The crime of ink is five hundred," Zheng Xuan noted: "Ink means dark. First, carve the face and suffocate it with ink. It is said that if the forehead is carved, it will be a sore, and the ink will suffocate it. The sores cause discoloration."

There are many popular themes, such as: poetry and songs, landscape and flower-and-bird paintings, and Buddhist-related artistic creations.