China

China is a vast country whose history includes many different traditions of body marking. Tattoos could be imposed as punishment, chosen as decoration or worn within particular communities.

An official mark made a conviction visible long after the punishment itself. Some people later added their own animals, scenery or written designs, changing the appearance of the marked body.

Stories offered another source of inspiration. Water Margin tells the adventures of the outlaws of Liangshan, including heroes recognised by their tattoos. Nine-Dragoned Shi Jin is one of the most famous. The story later became popular in Japan as Suikoden, where colourful prints helped inspire tattoo artists.

This history differs from the tattoo traditions of Dai and Dulong communities in Yunnan or Li communities on Hainan. Court clothing, hairstyles and jewellery add still more ways to decorate the body across China's many places and periods.