It’s no surprise that tattoos are a great form of self-expression for many.
You can think of it as a piece of art that people select to have permanently embodied. But did you know that ancient Chinese civilization hides a secret meaning behind the ‘ugly ink.’ Yes, and just in case you’re curious, we’re revealing what the tattooed face woman has to say.
On the whole, it’s a tale showing that not all forms of ink carry the same meaning. And this last Chinese women generation with face tattoos has a lot to say. In particular, they are explaining the dark message behind their marks and it’s absolutely fascinating.
The tattooed face woman is a part of the handful of females left with telltale face lines
Did you know that a single line of ink could mean much more than meets the eye? Yes, tattoos may be a fashion for some but it’s a whole different and in-depth meaning for this tattooed face woman.
Truth be told, there is only a couple of women left on the Hainan island with telltale lines of ink, that adorn their faces. The rather unique or ‘ugly ink’ holds a mysterious and bizarre meaning. And just in case you wish to visit and interview them personally about the message behind it all, you need to travel 5 hours to a remote destination.
Deep in the mountainous region, you can find the mysterious tattoed face women. And it wouldn’t be wrong to term this site as a place to share living history. Above all, there are a total of only three minorities left in all of China. And they are famous for their face tattooing.
27-year-old tattooed face woman explains how many support ink for their ‘own reasons’
To be more specific, the three minorities include Du Long Minority, Li Minority, and the Dai Minority. Coincidently, this 27-year tattooed face woman belongs to the Li Minority. And she’s got a lot to say.
In the famous Li culture, getting a face tattoo signals adulthood. And that means a young girl is now ready for marriage while also depicting her social status in the community. Every single village has its own reasons, styles, and beliefs for the tattooed ink. From miles away, that’s how you could identify them.
The dark significance behind various tattoo ideas revealed
The tattooed face woman further reveals how Japanese soldiers did some very terrible things to the females of Hainan. Also, they weren’t very keen on inked women.
Likewise, tattooed females were less likely to be traded off, stolen, or sold. And that’s why here, the face tattoo markings were less of a social status symbol and more of means for safety.
An up-close and personal look at the method used for face portrait tattoos
In such a remote place, how do you place tattoos in the first place? The tattooed faced woman explains how she and her friends used to dip tree spikes into the dark ink.
Then, they used a hammer to intricately tap away from all the liquid, upon their face. And the end result was permanent lines.
Overall, it’s quite a painful procedure. Hence, it was the need at that moment in time. Similarly, another woman went on to describe how she tattooed her face so she could fit into the community. She even wet herself due to the painstaking nature of the ordeal.
Whether they liked it or not, these brave women had no choice but to place tattoo marks upon their faces. For this reason, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that a tradition soon turned into a necessity.
For more similarly fascinating stories, don’t forget to take a look at our article The Hidden Meaning Behind Orion’s Belt Tattoo.