【文稿】我刺青，但我是好女孩

Xiaohua: Although tattoos have long been fashionable in western countries, Chinese society has always looked askance at an art form primarily associated with criminals and gang members. Now things are beginning to change, as a China Daily report says. So do you think that getting a tattoo is becoming sort of more popular than before? And why’s that?Heyang: I think it is something that’s becoming a little bit more popular maybe still within the younger age group, but I think it’s getting a little bit more positive publicity than the old days. Let’s say from ancient classic literature like the Heroes of the Marsh or the “水浒传”, you know, when tattoos are being needled onto your face to show that you are an inmate that kind of thing. And now I think it’s largely associated with being popular, urban and a little bit rebellious.John: Yeah, here’s the thing, I mean to say that a tattoo has long being a fashion of western countries, they haven’t. I mean originally tattoos were the province of criminals and sailors. Because the history of tattoo actually comes from Asia, from Japan, from China and from other areas. So originally it was mostly sailors’, people that were on these trading missions and trading trips for the Netherlands, UK, and these companies they would go there, they would get these tattoos and then come back. It’s also long being in the west and in Asia a way for criminals to identify each other, what gang are you in, who do you support, who’s your boss, who’s your leader, what territories do you control and things like that. Mostly because tattoos, up until very recently, have been totally irremovable, you cannot remove them at all, so get this tattoo, it is a mark of loyalty, a sign of loyalty to your gang, to your group and also means you can never get out, you can never betray your group, because everyone gotta know where you’re coming from. It’s also being a way to mark experience and so on. But again, mostly on criminals. It’s funny because things in the west are changing, things in China are definitely changing. I mean my mom when I was a kid she always told me “You can never get a tattoo, it’s gonna be stuck with the rest of your life.” A couple of years ago she came to Beijing after my son was born and lo and behold she had a tattoo. So obviously I think this shows that things are changed quite a bit and things are definitely changing in China as well. Again as Heyang was saying, it’s young people, it shows rebellion but also it’s a way for people to identify themselves, to themselves and to other people.Heyang: Yeah, I think it’s partially, it could either be you want to show people who see you that you are different or there are something rebellious that you believe in and something like that or for those who get a tattoo in parts of your body that’s concealed when you’re wearing normal clothes, then I think it’s a quiet way to maybe to show you’re still rebellious in the heart. And also, some people sort of document your own life using this and associating certain important events in your life with a tattoo. I think that’s kind of a cool idea. Personally, I don’t want it because just think about when you’re old and skin is like saggy, I mean that’s not gonna look pretty.John: Heyang thinks too much.Xiaohua: Yeah, you think too much. But I mean if my husband doesn’t object. I would get one, really, totally.