tattoo in the Chinese History

tattoo is called "Wen Shen" or "Ci Shen" in Chinese. The term means literally "puncture the body".

tattoo has been known and practised in China for many years. But it was never considered to be something artistic, desirable, or even acceptable. A commonly held notion is that one's body is a precious gift from the parent and therefore should never be abused or defaced by a tattoo.

Many years ago, when a court finds a person guilty of a severe crime, it may order a tattoo be placed on his face, and bannishes him to a far-way place for a number of years. The tattoo on the face permantly marks the person as a criminal. The two-prone punishment is called "ci pei" (tattoo/exile).

In the present, tattoo are more likely to be used by members of the underground criminal society than ordinary citizens.

Examples of tattoo

Yueh Fei
The most famous tattoo in Chinese history
Yueh Fei was a famous general in the South Song Dynystry. When he served under a Field Marshal defending the enemy from the North, The Field Marshal went over to the enemy. Disgusted, Yueh Fei resigned and returned home to care for his mother.
His mother was displeased, and lectured him that a soldier's first duty is loyalty to his country. To be sure that the admonition will never be forgoetten, she tattoo the words on his back!
Yueh Fei went back and led another army to defend the country.

The first word, from the left, means the most, the ultimate.
The second word means loyalty.
The third word means to serve.
The fourth word means country.

Here is a Beijing Opera based on this tattoo [big5].

My views about tattoo


I am personally opposed to the practice of Tattoo.

This page is written for the purpose of discouraging any request or direct email to me.

See Some Thoughts on Tattoo. by Mr. Erik E. Peterson.

Words for tattoo

If you feel you must tattoo Chinese words, then for goodness sake make sure that the words are not by someone who does not know Chinese himself, and whose handiwork is no better the English handwritng of a 6-year old!

In the following, you may get some idea of what good handwritings look like.


• "A Is For Love" is is small set of flash cards as teaching aids for Chinese words. You see the words written and spoken.

• In "Chinese Words" there are words which may be of interest.

• It may be worthwhile to go to the Quotation Page to see and learn some Chinese words.

• English-Chinese Dictionaries allow you to look up words online. Type in any English word and get its Chinese translation. Simply cut-and-paste output and use it.

• Chinese names for English given names.
  In fact, you can enter any English word and get its translation. Authoritative and best on the Net. Highly recommended.

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