Re: Tattoo Q

I wouldn't get a tattoo of another heritage. Mine are both Irish. The way I look at it I will be Irish forever so it they will always have meaning to me.

Re: Tattoo Q

Posted by MrsERod

personally - i picked my chinese symbol because of its meaning and the significance it had for me at the time - and actually still does.

Re: Tattoo Q

I think people want a certain word that means something to them (strength, passion, perserverence, etc), but they dont' want the whole word written out, so they chose Chinese simply because they have a very asthetically pleasing form of writing.

Re: Tattoo Q

I think it's a combination of things.

My theories:

1. A lot of people who were "originally" into tatoos also explored non-traditional venues for religion and medicine and a lot of that stuff originates from Asian countries. Then it became more of a trend, so I can't say that everyone feels that way.

2. When you think of symbols in America, they are usually very literal and unmistakable, some people like to have the "mystery" of the Chinese symbol so not everyone knows the meaning of the tattoo - they have to ask about it and then you can choose to share or not.

3. They are just more elegant and beautiful than the word in English.

4. A lot of Americans don't have a specific culture they relate to - we beg borrow and steal from whichever ones we find most personally appealing.

Re: Tattoo Q

Im really glad Red posted this question as I had always wondered about it at the height of the fad. Not that many people speak Chinese.

My friend has a tattoo in Chinese. She is West Indian. She told me that one day a couple of Chinese ladies were looking at her and saying her name. She didnt know the ladies and thought it was strange.

I agree with The Lorax though on the aesthetics of certain languages. The written forms of Asian, Hebrew, Arabic and many other non-Latin based languages have a beauty about them that is very appealing

My culture forbids tattoos. I have them anyway but I could never have a Hebrew tattoo for that reason. My tattoos are not there to make an anti-cultural statement so I didnt find it necessary.

Message edited 8/23/2006 9:44:50 AM.

Re: Tattoo Q

I honestly picked my Chinese symbol, because I liked how it looked. Unfortunately, it's the Chinese letter "N", which symbolizes an ex-boyfriend. At least I didn't get his whole name

Re: Tattoo Q

My tattoo is of a sun. I have always loved the cobalt blue suns with the gold. I think they're beautiful. I decided to get mine because it means something to me- no matter what happens in life, the sun is going to rise. I try to remember this always.