29th February – 1st March 2020, Warsaw Tattoo Days. One of the most popular tattoo conventions in Poland.

Young power, wonderful works and nice music live, the mixing of youth culture. Special edition to fight coronavirus!

https://warszawa.tattoodays.pl

14th – 16th November 2020, the only tattoo festival on our planet during the period of covid.

Graffiti, automobile, live band, big festival for young people from all quarters of mainland.

4th – 6th October 2019, the 6th international tattoo convention in Marseille city, it’s also the first Asian Edition in Europe.

Rich performance and wonderful dance for 3 days, traditional dancers were invited from Polynesia, young tattoo artists were invited from Taiwan, excellent tattoo show in the south of France.

http://www.conventiontattooaix.fr

 

 

17th-18th August 2019，the best tattoo festival in Normandy, the most chic tattoo convention in France, 300 tattoo artists and tattoo companies from all over the world.

Deauville is a famous tourist city, the festival was held in CID ( Centre International Deauville),  just beside the shopping center and beach. Except tattoo, you can enjoy the seafood and beautiful scenery.

Grand opening casino party only for invitee.

www.deauvilletattoofestival.com

2^nd – 4^th November 2019, Erji Road Yusheng Hotel, Kunming city, Yunnan Province.

The 2^nd Kunming Tattoo Convention, great tattoo convention from south west of China.

18^th – 20^th October 2019, Fanmate Creative Art Area, Chengdu. The 5th Chi Cheng Tattoo Convention, south China.

Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan province, one of the biggest city in China. The tattoo convention included classic car modifications, painting exhibition, music live etc, open for 3 days.

27^th – 28^th July 2019, Hongshan District Stadium，Chifeng city.

The 3^rd Suld Tattoo Festival, north China.

Suld is a symbol of Mongolia and a symbol of the god of war. Black symbolizes war and power, and white symbolizes peace and authority.There are 16 trophies in the 3rd Sulid Tattoo Festival, 1 trophy of champion and 15 trophies of category.

23^th – 24^th Febraury 2019, Red Club, Changsha,

Hunan spring tattoo art salon, Hunan, China. Changsha is the capital of Hunan province, famous historical and cultural city.

50 local tattoo artists gathered together, live work competition and academic seminar.

25^th May 2017, Great Hall of the people, Beijing, China

First national conference of tattoo profession, about pre-job training and employment in tattoo market.

People’s tattoo, people’s work, the conference is organized by Chinese tattoo association, led by committee of CPC of SASAC.

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