#419 [2001-12-05 07:48:19]
Re: [samuraihistory] Tattoos
by
fifthchamber
Hello,
The use of Tattooing in the past in Japan was and still is to a degree not
the sort of thing that 'respectable' types use. By this I mean that in the
past the tatto was used as one method in the 'five tortures' to brand a
person who was convicted of a crime..The samurai themselves would not have
been tattooed unless they had been inprisoned or marked by the authorities in
this way..i.e. if he was Ronin it would be a possibility that he was tattooed
but otherwise it would be incredibly unlikely and if he was then it would
certainly be hidden from sight.
Tattooing is still viewed along these same lines in Japan today..although
with the 'westernization' of Japans youth it is becoming more acceptable..The
Tattoo is often associated with the Yakuza clans and various 'disreputable'
types rather than the business classes and the same ideas were more in force
during the past in Japan.
Hope this helps ya!
Abayo.
Ben.
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