SHARING – ECTAC https://www.ectac.net Europe-China Tattoo Artist Club Association Fri, 04 Jun 2021 20:27:38 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.4.6 The image of Loong https://www.ectac.net/2021/04/25/the-image-of-loong/ Sun, 25 Apr 2021 14:02:15 +0000 http://www.ectac.net/?p=2695

The image of Loong

Loong is a symbol of Asian tattoo, it’s a totem of ancient China. Loong is also mythical animal from Chinese ancient legends, it’s the master of wind and rain. It’s often used to symbolize auspiciousness.

Loong is also one of the most representative traditional image of the East Asian ethnic groups, like those of Singapore, Vietnam, Japan and Korea. In all Asian countries, Loong is founded on the inheritance of Chinese culture.

The earliest documented history of Loong dates 5 thousands years ago. In different historical periods, Loong has different images.

The image of Loong before the Han Dynasty ( 220 BC – 25 AD) was initially embodied, in various forms. The eyes, horns and mouth clearly vary, and scales and claws begin to appear.

Jade carving, Warring States Period, 403 BC – 221 BC, China

The Han Dynasty ( 220 BC – 25 AD) brought the innovation of the Loong image. Since that time, the image of Loong became more concrete, the body lines were floating and full of movement. the Loong claw came to have 3 toes.

Carving on tile, 202 BC – 8 AD, China

In the Sui Dynasty ( 581 AD – 619 AD), the image of Loong began to appear in the hierarchy of the upper social classes, the mouth and the horns of Loong became longer, the eyes more sharp, and Loong began to fly with the clouds or the fog.

Relief sculpture, Sui Dynasty 581 AD – 619 AD, China

By the Tang Dynasty ( 618 AD – 907 AD), the Loong neck became very thin, the spine and elbows have thorns, and the Loong body rested in a more vertical position, to reflect the the prosperity of society.

Gilt sculpture， Tang Dynasty 618 AD – 907 AD, China

Bronze sculpture，Tang Dynasty 618 AD – 907 AD, China

During the Song Dynasty ( 960 AD – 1279 AD), the Loong image was standardized, with horns like those of a deer, the head is like a camel, the body is sinuous like a snake, the scales like those of a fish, the claws like an eagle’s, the palm is like tiger’s, and the ear resembling that of a cow. Loong always travels in clouds and water, making it looks more mysterious.

Painting, Song Dynasty 960 AD – 1279 AD, China

Painting, Song Dynasty 960 AD – 1279 AD, China

The Loong image was continued in the Jin Dynasty ( 1125 AD – 1234 AD), it represented courage and force.

Pottery, Jin Dynasty 1115 AD – 1234 AD, China

During the Yuan Dynasty ( 1271 AD – 1368 AD), Loong became the symbol of the emperor. The Loong image began to be used by the royal family. Its number of claws on each foot corresponded to the level of power of each each level of the royal family.

Porcelain,Yuan Dynasty 1271 AD – 1369 AD, China

Porcelain,Yuan Dynasty 1271 AD – 1369 AD, China

In the Ming Dynasty ( 960 AD – 1279 AD), the Loong image became more ferocious and mighty. Most of them were decorated with flames, and shuttled between the sea and clouds, to show their power of domination.

Porcelain, Ming Dynasty 960 AD – 1279 AD, China

Porcelain, Ming Dynasty 960 AD – 1279 AD, China

Armillary sphere, Ming Dynasty 960 AD – 1279 AD, China

During the Qing Dynasty ( 1636 AD – 1912 AD)，Loong looked very domineering, the head became more plump, the body became more muscular, the upper jaw became short，the shape of the eyebrows and beards like bamboo leaves, and most of the feet have 5 toes.

Relief sculpture, Qing Dynasty 1636 AD – 1912 AD, China

Embroidery, Qing Dynasty 1636 AD – 1912 AD, China

Embroidery, Qing Dynasty 1636 AD – 1912 AD, China

Bronze sculpture, Qing Dynasty 1636 AD – 1912 AD, China

The Qing Dynasty communicated a lot with Europe, some Loongs even had wings added, like the European dragon.

Painting, Qing Dynasty 1636 AD – 1912 AD, China

The Minguo period ( 1912 AD – 1949 AD), was a turning point between the traditional and the modern. After the emperor’s abdication, the usefulness of Loong became more folk-like, mirroring the ways of the common folk rather than the nobility.

Painting, Minguo period 1636 AD – 1912 AD, China

The Modern period ( 1949 AD – Today), after Chinese economic reform, the culture of Loong became more popular all over the world, the image of Loong continues to evolve.

.Painting, 2018 AD, China

Painting, 2018 AD, China

Some say，Loong’s feet have 5 toes in China, 4 toes in Korea, 3 toes in Japan. In fact, Loong’s feet not only have 5 toes in China, but also 4 toes and 3 toes there.

This is because the number of toes has a very strong political meaning in Chinese history. Since the Yuan Dynasty, 5 toes were only used for the royal family, 4 toes and 3 toes were used for other Asian countries and common people.

Today, the spirit of Loong is always reflected in the daily life of China, including the spirit of struggle and winning, and the spirit of peace and harmony.

 

Editor: Xiang

]]> History: Short Hair and Body Tattoo https://www.ectac.net/2021/04/25/history-short-hair-and-body-tattoo/ Sun, 25 Apr 2021 13:56:38 +0000 http://www.ectac.net/?p=2667

Short hair and body tattoo（断发文身）were ancient customs of the Yue（越）tribe in southern China, between 2000 BC and 1000 AD, in the area of Zhejiang, Fujian, Canton, Guangxi and other nearby regions.

The Yue tribe lived in the lakes and coastal areas, and they cut the hair on the forehead and temples, in order to facilitate work and life in a warm and humid environment, which was very different from the custom of long hair and wearing a hat as in other areas.

Their lives were full of variables and dangers, they needed to obtain food from deep water and compete with fierce beasts for living space. They carved patterns on their skins, dressed up as beasts, hunted in the sea, went into the mountains, and fought against the natural and death.

“In the south in the Jiuyi Mountains, the land is scarce and the water is rich. There, people cut off their hair and marked tattoos that looked like fish scales. ”

Text from ancient Chinese book 《Huainanzi》 (179 BC – 122 BC)

These tattoos were a sort of totemic writing, which gave them extra power to hunt and fish. The word “totem” refers to a depiction of something (such as an animal, plant or supernatural being) that gives a family or tribe its name and that often serves as a reminder of their ancestry. The term also refers to anything or person having particular emblematic or symbolic importance, as the fish scale tattoos did.

In 1984, Nanjing Museum, Sun Yat-sen University and Zhenjiang Museum created an archaeological excavation team to excavate three tomb mounds at the top of the northern hill of Dagang. Ancient sculptures with tattoo patterns were discovered. These sculptures reflected the history and appearance of Yue tattooing and hair customs.

This bronze sculpture was founded in Zhejiang province, made in the Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC – 476 BC). Collection: Museum of Keqiao District, Shaoxing City.

 

The bronze sculpture clearly shows the image of tribal forms from two thousand years ago，the whole body is covered with patterns of various shapes, it’s typical Yue tattoo.

 

Besides the reason of totem worship, the tattoo also has an important meaning in becoming an adult, which was an important ceremony popular in the matriarchal communes. In the period of the clan commune, only after the tattoos were completed, could the clan members can be confirmed by the tribe, and enjoy all the rights and obligations of the tribe.

For the tribe of Yue, and acceptance of new members, the ceremony of adulthood symbolizeed the strength of power and was an important means of maintaining and consolidating the clan system. This was a clan member’s top priority in their life.

Wu Taibo (吴泰伯) (circa 1200 BC – 1100 BC), was the son of King Tai of Zhou (周 太王) and the legendary founder of the State of Wu(circa 1200 BC – 400 BC). He was the first prince documented to have a tattoo in the history of China.

Reference from ancient Chinese book《Records of the Grand Historian》 (104 BC – 91 BC)

Wu Taibo was born in the middle of China, but he moved to the southeast of China to live with the Yue tribe. He cut his long hair and got body tattoos to show respect for local customs. He guided the Yue tribe in profiting from the region, in conserving water and in cultivation. Together, they created a new civilization.

 

Editor: Xiang

]]>