A tattoo is a marking made by
inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the
pigment. Tattoos on humans are a type of decorative body modification,
while tattoos on animals are most commonly used for identification
purposes. The first written reference to the word, "tattoo" (or Samoan
"Tatau") appears in the journal of Joseph Banks, the naturalist aboard
Captain Cook's ship the HMS Endeavour in 1769: "I shall now mention the
way they mark themselves indelibly, each of them is so marked by their
humor or disposition".
Tattooing
has been practiced for centuries worldwide. The Ainu, the indigenous
people of Japan, traditionally had facial tattoos. Today one can find
Berbers of Tamazgha (North Africa), Māori of New Zealand, Hausa people
of Northern Nigeria, Arabic people in East-Turkey and Atayal of Taiwan
with facial tattoos. Tattooing was widespread among Polynesian peoples
and among certain tribal groups in the Taiwan, Philippines, Borneo,
Mentawai Islands, Africa, North America, South America, Mesoamerica,
Europe, Japan, Cambodia, New Zealand and Micronesia. Despite some taboos
surrounding tattooing, the art continues to be popular in many parts of
the world.
Dragon Ink Tattoos for Women 2012

















