Modified and Proud

Body Modification has been around for thousands of years and people still act surprised and shocked about it, that's exactly what I call ignorance and not having enough knowledge of History. Body modification is a complex word and has to be dissected in order to understand what involves. Some people find a navel piercing shockingly offensive while others find a full body tattoo appealing.

People are used to be told what to do and what not to do with their bodies since they're born and only a few stand out from the crowd to claim they're independence, this can be done in many ways and usually have some kind of body modification.

Society tends to criticize (in most cases) those who are modified and it is understandable that sometimes people want to live a life they call "normal" just because they want to control or be in charge of others by preventing them from living as they wish (while respecting the laws and living according to it). People will always look for something to talk about no matter if you do your best to do as they say and live the way they want you to live, they will always find something wrong, etc.

Those who are willing to break free and live their life able to express their identities don't carry that unnecessary baggage on their shoulders of worrying what people would say and don't live ashamed to show who they are. Regardless if it is a piercing, full body tattoo or having their body extremely modified.

Japanese Tattoo

Japanese tattoo art has a lot of names – irezumi and horimono in the Japanese language. Irezumi is the word meant for the basic visible ink covering big parts of the body like the back. Japanese tattoo art has a extremely extensive tradition.

Since the influence of Confucianism and Buddhism over the Japanese culture, tattoo art has a damaging connotation for the majority of the Japanese population. In the eyes of an typical Japanese a ink is considered a mark of a yakuza – a member of the Japanese mafia – and a macho emblem of members of the lesser classes.

The Early History of Japanese Tattoo Art

Archaeologists believe that the initial settlers of Japan, the Ainu citizens, used facial tattoos. Chinese papers tell concerning the Wa inhabitants – the Chinese name meant for their Japanese neighbours – and the individuals lifestyle of diving into water for fish and shells and decorating the total skin with tattoos. These reports are in the region of 1700 years old.

For the top developed Chinese culture, tattooing was a barbaric undertaking. As soon as Buddhism was brought from China to Japan and with it the solid influence of the Chinese culture, tattooing got harmful connotations. Criminals were marked with tattoos to punish and identify them within society.

Tattoos in the Edo Period

In the Edo period – 1603-1868 – Japanese tattoo drawings became a part of ukiyo-e – the suspended world culture. Prostitutes – yujos – of the pleasure quarters used tattoos to improve the individuals prettiness for customers. Skin tattoos were furthermore used by labourers and firemen.

From 1720 on, the tattooing of criminals became an legitimate punishment and replaced taking away of the nose and the ears. The criminal received a ring ink around the arm in support of every offence or else a character ink on his temple. Tattooing criminals was continued until 1870, at what time it was abolished by the new Meiji government of the Japanese Emperor.

This visible punishment produced a further genre of outcasts which had no place taking part in society and nowhere to go. A lot of these outlaws were ronin – master less samurai warriors. They had no alternatives than organizing gangs. These men created the start of the yakuza – the controlled criminals inside Japan inside the twentieth century.

Japanese Tattoo Prints

In 1827 the ukiyo-e artist Kuniyoshi Utagawa published the original 6 emblems of the 108 Heroes of the Suikoden. The Suikoden were something like ancient Robin Hoods – honourable bandits. The story is based on a classic Chinese novel – Shui-Hi-Chuan, which dates from the 13th and 14th century. The novel was initially translated into Japanese in 1757 by Okajima Kanzanion.

By the turn of the 18th to the 19th century the story was available with illustrations by Katsushika Hokusai. The novel of the 108 honourable bandits was extremely accepted in the sphere of Japan and created a kind of Suikoden trend amongst Japanese towns inhabitants.

Kuniyoshi’s Suikoden ukiyo-e emblems bare the heroes in colourful, detailed body tattoos. Japanese ink prints and tattoo drawings in general subsequently became stylish. Tattoos were considered iki – cool – however were restricted to the poorer classes.

The richness and fantasy of the Japanese tattoo print emblems revealed by Kuniyoshi are used by a few ink artists up to this moment.

The Meiji Restoration until Postwar Japan

Within its strive to adopt Western civilizations, the Imperial Meiji government outlawed tattooing as something thought about a barbaric relict of the past. The funny thing was that the Japanese irezumi artists right away got brand new customers – the sailors from the foreign ships anchoring inside Japanese harbours. Hence Japanese ink designs was spread to the West.

In the course of the first half of the twentieth century, horimono remained a forbidden art form until 1948, as soon as the prevention was officially lifted. A few say that this step had become needed to sanction the demand by soldiers of the American occupation forces for horimono and irezumi.

Tattoo Art in Modern Japan

A number of younger individuals may well think about tattooing being cool, the majority of the Japanese population still considers it while something connected to the gangland of mafia gangsters and a rough low caste tradition at the finest.

Younger folks who consider tattoos as iki – a marginal amongst Japanese youth – tend to use partial tattoos inside Western style on the persons upper arms, someplace it is not directly visible.

Star Tattoos

Star tattoos are one of the hottest design motifs or themes within the world of tattoo. In fact star tattoos are sought after more then any other type of design.

This is based on monthly keyword search volume on the internet so the statistics could be a little off but overall star tattoo designs are incredibly popular.

Please be forewarned just because something is popular especially a certain tattoo design does not mean you should run out and get one. These are the types of tattoos you will regret later in life when they are no longer popular or the in thing.

Instead you should always get any permanent tattoo or piercing because you feel a deep connection and the tattoo or piercing holds some significant meaning for you other then it was popular or I saw it on a famous celebrity. If you already feel a connection with the star as a tattoo symbol then by all means express yourself and go for it.

So why are star tattoo designs so amazingly popular? There are probably a wide variety of reasons and here are some of the things that customers have told us.

1. Unisex design- star tattoos are really a unisex design. This means that any type of star tattoo design be it a nautical star, or a stary night tattoo it really doesn’t matter stars are such a universal theme that they will fit well for both sexes.

2. Bold and Strong – Star tattoo designs are often very bold and strong. The thick lines or solid shapes make a bold tattoo that really stands out and can be seen from a distance.

3. Variety of Colors – Star tattoo designs can be done in a variety of colors and you are really not limited to anything specific. For example a pink colored star works just as well as a deep blue or a red star tattoo. So you can use a meaningful color scheme that enhances your overall design.

4. Affordable Designs – another reason they are so popular is star tattoos can often be designed either by hand or even done free hand by the tattoo artist. They are easy to design, change and adapt.

5. Variety of Sizes – Stars can be done in a wide variety of sizes and tweaked in many different ways to fit the space or location on the body where the person wants the tattoo.

6. Symbolic Meaning – there are deep meaning behind stars and yet they are sort of up to personal interpretation also.

There is also a large variety of different star types to chose from. For example there is the historic nautical star tattoo that was an important good luck symbol to sailors. There are shooting stars, and star and moon clusters just to name a few of the variations. There are really a lot of different options with start between, size, color, location and type of star the tattoo can have a very different and original feeling.

Scorpion Tattoo Design

Most people do not really take zodiac signs seriously but there are those who do. Scorpion tattoo designs are quite common and popular among crowds. This is one of the best ways to express one’s personality and show certain characteristics. Zodiac tattoos such as this one go even further with expression.

The scorpion is the symbol of the zodiac Scorpio which is the astrological sign for people born between the 23rd of October and the 21st of November. Astrologers say that people born on this sign are determined, intuitive, passionate and powerful. On the flip side, they are also resentful, compulsive, secretive and obstinate.

People who bear the Scorpio zodiac sign tend to excel in leadership. Their sheer determination also makes failure an unacceptable outcome as well. Keeping secrets from them seems futile because of their intuition. They are also creative thinkers able to think outside the box. A scorpion’s sting is deadly and the same goes true with Scorpios.

It takes a lot for these people to get mad but when they do, they hit back pretty hard. Scorpios are also known to give everything when it comes to relationships. Getting a scorpion tattoo is a great way to tell people how you really are.Staunch believers of astrology would find it great news that they can articulate their belief with zodiac tattoos. Fortunately, there are plenty of tattoo artists who would willingly ink scorpion tattoo designs.

You will not run out of options with designs as well. Of course you may always ask a tattoo artist to create one for you or do it yourself. This tattoo design can be just about anything you want. It may bear slight realism or be more imaginative in its artistic presentation. It can be in any size and pose that you find best. The tattoo may be in black ink or with color added for a unique look.

Scorpion tattoo designs may be tattooed on any part of your body for both guys and girls. The most common places for this tattoo are the upper and forearms, the shoulders, chest, abdomen and back. Where it is placed is entirely up to you and will look great anywhere. If you are the type of person who likes excitement and danger, a scorpion tattoo would be a great choice for you.

With plenty of designs to choose from, you have all the freedom you need to express yourself. Scorpion tattoo designs are one of the best ways to express your individuality. Choose one that best reflects the true you to make it more of your own. Wear it proud and declare your boldness with this attention-grabbing piece. Just be sure that you can handle the attention that goes with it.

Body Modification - Body Building

Bodybuilding is a form of body modification, involving intensive muscle hypertrophy.

An individual who engages in this activity is referred to as a bodybuilder.

In competitive and professional bodybuilding, bodybuilders display their physiques to a panel of judges, who assign points based on their appearance.

Bodybuilders prepare for competition through a combination of fat loss, oils, and tanning (or tanning lotions) which combined with lighting make the definition of the muscle group more distinct.

Choosing a Tribal Tattoo Design

Tribal tattoo art looks great, but more importantly, every tribe has design deeper meaning. Tribal TattoosWhen choosing tribal tattoos, you should consider the meaning of this, and make sure that you believe in the statement you made.

There are some tribal tattoos designs that can be chosen differently. There zodiac tribal designs, sun and stars, religious symbols, and even tribal band tattoo. Each design has a meaning, be it spiritual or community. This has been happening since time immemorial, when the tattoo is used both to mark the affiliation with a group, or religion, magic, or spiritual beliefs.

Some of the oldest tribal tattoos there are thousands of years ago. Many of these tattoos represent the sun and the stars to honor the sun god and the element of fire. Tribal sun tattoo, and the stars, can vary in size and detail. This allows them to adapt to every part of your body, even though the shoulders and back seem to be the most popular locations. If you want to get creative, you can create a chain of ethnic tribes with pictures of the sun star as center.

Extreme Body Modification in Japan

As with most things they embrace, the Japanese have taken the western cult of Extreme Body Modification to new extremes in recent years. "Scar Factory is a document of the Japanese scene in words and pictures.

Includes Japanese tours by scarification and piercing/implant artists Lukas Zpira and Steve Haworth; interviews with extreme manga artists Hideo Yamamoto ("Ichi the Killer") and Kago Shintaro; a pictorial history of Torture Garden Japan; clandestine tribal gatherings in Osaka, Tokyo and Kyoto; branding festival in Tokyo, 2004; body suspension parties in Tokyo; Eizo Mamiza, Japanese Body Mod pioneer; and interviews with Extreme Body Mod practitioners.

Arabic Tattoo - Scripts

Although it is not uncommon to see Arabic lettering tattoos in the United States, many Muslims residing in Middle East countries like Iraq, Iran and Saudi Arabia (particularly followers of Islam) are staunchly against it. Informed readers may be scratching their heads and wondering, "But what about henna?" You are absolutely right.

Henna, the art of decorating the hands and feet with a paste made from the Hina plant, originated in the Middle East. The women there adorn their bodies with Henna to celebrate births, victories, birthdays, circumcisions and especially weddings. And yet tattoos are strictly forbidden because, unlike Henna, which washes off within several days, tattoos are permanent.

It is unlawful to have anything on your body which God did not create--tattoos, piercing, even plastic surgery procedures are an abomination. Unless it is done to eliminate pain, all surgeries which alter one's appearance in any way are against Islamic law.

Of course, this does not prevent Arabs and non-Arabs alike from getting Arabic tattoos. I always recommend consulting several different sources if you're looking to translate an English word or phrase into a foreign language and are not a native speaker of the language yourself. When it comes to Arabic translations, however, this task may prove to be a bit difficult; due to their religious beliefs, some Arabs will not even partake in the translation if they know it will be used as a tattoo.

If you are interested in getting an Arabic tattoo, keep in mind that Arabic is written from right to left using 18 distinct letter shapes which may vary slightly depending on which letters come before and after. The shapes will change in order to be connected to the letters that surround it. There are also different types of script used in traditional Arabic calligraphy as early as the 7th century: Farsi, Naskh, Kufi, Deewani, Req'aa and Thuluth.

Again, it is important to consult several different sources to ensure your translation is correct. Native speakers or scholars of the language are your best bet. Although the Internet is ripe with translation services, finding one can be difficult when it comes to Arabic because there are not many that specialize in Arabic translations.

Japanese Sleeves Tattoo

Japanese Sleeve Tattoos come in different forms and designs depending on ones personality and what he wants to be represented by. Because of the popularity of tattoos, people who want to get one now are more particular in the originality and uniqueness of their designs.

There are hundreds of possible tattoo designs to choose from. But since Japan has been in the tattoo business for a very long time, they have developed designs that people have shown more interest in, nowadays, than any other. Japanese sleeve tattoos is what they are called.

Examples these sleeve tattoos are koi fish tattoos, dragons, samurai and hannya masks. Koi fish designs are very popular because of it represent power and strength and they form an illusion of a swimming fish when tattooed on the arm.

Dragon designs are also very popular, next to koi fish designs, because of the masculinity it creates for men who have them. They are either red or black. This design is also a symbol of power and strength as this mythical creature can breathe out fire and is just ready to kill and take an enemy down when needed.

The samurai is a symbol of heroism and great courage. This is one of the reasons why it has become so popular among all sleeve tattoos.

Hannya masks were used before in some plays in Tokyo. But because of its beauty, it has become a piece of art itself. This is believed to have the power to ward of evil. With its beauty and reputation, hannya masks have become another popular tattoo designs, not only in Japan but all over the world.

Piercings as Art Form

Historians believe humans in the 5,000-year-old mummies' time thought that demons entered earthly bodies through the ear, and that placing metal inside the earlobe would ward them off. Today, many African tribes display expressive body piercings as part of their way of life for spiritual and societal reasons.

Piercings as Art Form

In preserving their ancient cultures and belief systems, many African tribes have continued practices of piercing their bodies that originated thousands of years ago. Piercings throughout Africa denote pride, beauty and wealth. The African Conservancy's website states, "African body art changes the wearer into an object shaped by color, movement, textures, patterns and designs." In contrast with western beliefs about the taboo nature of body piercings, many tribal Africans believe that puncturing and even stretching builds character, discipline and strength.

Ear Piercings

The Massai people, an ethnic tribe living in present day Kenya and Tanzania, historically migrated from North Africa and once ruled much of the continent. Through disease, famine and an influx of tourism, the Massai have preserved their original cultural beliefs and practices, including ritualistic earlobe piercing and stretching. Both men and women stretch their earlobes with hollow discs, and hang intricately beaded jewelry from the holes created through stretching. During traditional Massai dances and ceremonies, including circumcision for both men and women, the person being honored dresses in extensive body jewelry.

Lip Plates

Noted by "National Geographic" as a popular draw to tourists, the culturally rich Mursi tribe, living in southern Ethiopia is known for its women wearing the lip plates to display beauty and individuality. The lip plate is a large disc made from pottery or wood and worn in a woman's bottom lip that can reach up to 12 centimeters in diameter. At the age of 15 or 16, each Mursi girl has her lip cut by her mother or another woman of the tribe. The women fill the cut with a wooden plug until it heals, and then stretch the opening by adding larger plates over a series of months.

Nose Piercings

In the Christian Bible's book of Genesis, Abraham provides a "golden earring" to the woman, Rebecca, who marries his son, Isaac. The word used in the verse to describe the gift is "Shanf," which translates to "nose ring" in Hebrew. In reference to this verse, men of the nomadic Berber and Beja tribes, living in the Sahara and the Sudan respectively, present their wives with wedding rings that are worn in the nose. A large nose ring worn by a woman symbolizes a wealthy husband to those who see her. If a woman separates from her husband, the nose ring is hers to sell or barter for security.