The word tattoo is said to has two major derivations- from the polynesian word ‘ta’ which means striking something and the tahitian word ‘tatau’ which means ‘to mark something.Tattoos have been marked onto the bodies of human- beings for thousands of years. They are permanent designs that carry true meaning and have been looked at as status symbols, signs of religion, declaration of love, belief and even forms of punishment. Tattooing has been observed on Egyptian wall painting and also on Mummies themselves.

The earliest tattoos found were over 5,000 years old. In 1991, a 5,300- year- old mummy was discovered in The Alps. He had over 50 tattoos on various parts of his body, and he is the oldest human ever found to have tattoos. Tattooing has been practiced in Japan and also other Asian countries for thousands of years. The first written record of tattooing in Japan was found in a history of the Chinese Dynasty from the year 297 A.D. Today in Japan, tattooing is considered taboo because many of the Yakuza, the Japanese mafia, wear tattoos. Some people believe that the practice of tattooing may even date as many as 10,000 years into the past!

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Have you ever wondered how people tattoo their bodies when they don’t have access to a tattoo gun or a professional tattoo artist? You may be surprised to learn that many people have tattooed their skin using Indian ink, a sewing needle and a few lengths of the thread. India ink (or Indian ink in British English,) or less commonly called Chinese ink since it may have been first developed in either India or China, is a simple black ink once widely used for writing and printing, and now more commonly used for drawing, especially when inking comics and comic. India ink is made by taking something and burning it to produce soot. The soot is "harvested" and made into ink. It will work, but it is really thin compared to the real thing.The term ink is used a bit loosely. Most tattoo inks technically aren't inks. They are composed of pigments that are suspended in a carrier solution. Contrary to popular belief, pigments usually are not vegetable dyes. Today's pigments primarily are metal salts. However, some pigments are plastics and there are probably some vegetable dyes too. The pigment provides the color of the tattoo. The purpose of the carrier is to disinfect the pigment suspension, keep it evenly mixed, and provide for ease of application.

The cultural status of tattooing has steadily evolved from that of an anti-social activity in the 1960s to that of a trendy fashion statement in the 1990s. First adopted and flaunted by influential rock stars like the Rolling Stones in the early 1970s, tattooing had, by the late 1980s, become accepted by ever broader segments of mainstream society. During the last fifteen years, two distinct classes of tattoo business have emerged. The first is the "tattoo parlor" that glories in a sense of urban outlaw culture. The second is the "tattoo art studio" that most frequently features custom, fine art design; the ambiance of an upscale beauty salon; marketing campaigns aimed at middle- and upper middle-class professionals; and "by-appointment" services only. Today, tattoos are routinely seen on rock stars, professional sports figures, ice skating champions, fashion models, movie stars and other public figures who play a significant role in setting the culture's contemporary mores and behavior patterns.

Art history expert, Andrea Mulder-Slater, defines a symbol as "a picture or image that tells a story without using words." It has been suggested that symbols such as cave paintings and carvings were man's earliest forms of communication. When looking for a tattoo design, the question of symbolism often comes into play. If you've wondered what the meanings are to many commonly seen designs, you're not alone. For whatever reason you might be searching for the meanings of particular symbols, there is a wealth of information for you to find on many subjects, but very little is cut and dry. Sometimes, you will see the same symbols used by contradicting faiths. You may also find more than one meaning for a particular icon. And sometimes, you just have to ignore everything you read and go with your heart. If you're thinking about putting a symbol on your body that represents a religion that you are not familiar with, I would suggest you do some serious research. Not only would it be foolish to represent a culture you don't understand, but you might find that the religious beliefs are contrary to your own.

Because tattoos were considered so exotic in European and U.S. societies, tattooed Indians and Polynesians drew crowds at circuses and fairs during the 18th and 19th centuries. The market demographics for tattoo services are now skewed heavily toward mainstream customers. Today, tattooing is making a strong comeback .Tattooing today is the sixth-fastest-growing retail business in the United States. It is more popular and accepted than it has ever been. All classes of people seek the best tattoo artists. This rise in popularity has placed tattooists in the category of "fine artist". The tattooist has garnered a respect not seen for over 100 years. Current artists combine the tradition of tattooing with their personal style creating unique and phenomenal body art. With the addition of new inks, tattooing has certainly reached a new plateau. Tattooing is recognized by government agencies as both an art form, a profession and tattoo-related art work is the subject of museum, gallery and educational institution art shows across the United States.