Un cliente di tattoo artist Wang Wenbin mostra il tatuaggio sulla sua coscia in un tattoo studio in Cina a Shanghai, 29 marzo 2015. In un tattoo studio in Sh
A customer of tattoo artist Wang Wenbin shows the tattoo on her thigh in a tattoo studio in Shanghai, China, 29 March 2015. In a tattoo studio in Shanghai, the most distinctive sound is the buzzing of a tattoo gun as it touches flesh. Tattoo artist Wang Wenbin retouches the colors on a coworker's thigh. The small compound, blasting American Top 40 songs, is filled with young Chinese guys and girls donning dreads, piercings and tattoos. Over the past decade, tattoos have become more accepted in mainstream Chinese youth culture, but for older generations, the art of tattoo remains taboo. Traditionally, Chinese society frowned upon tattoos, which were associated with foreigners, prisoners and gamblers. Despite its age-old unpopularity, artists claim the practice is historically significant in China. Tattooing dates back to the Song Dynasty in the 12th century, when field marshal Yue Fei left war to return home to care for his mother. Yue Fei's mother criticized him for leaving the front, saying that a soldier's first loyalty is to his country. To ensure this would not be forgotten, she tattooed the characters "Utmost, " "Loyalty, " "Serve" and "Nation, " on Yue Fui. This anecdote, as retold by Lui, is fundamentally associated with tattooing in China. Tattoo artists believe that as today's younger generation comes of age, tattoos will gradually gain widespread acceptance. With a rising middle class, the Chinese have more disposable income than ever, giving them the ability to spend more on leisure and personal expenditures such as body art. The simplest of tattoos start off at 500 RMB ($77), making the trade lucrative and allowing tattoo artists to live a comfortable middle class life. Before taxes, rent, and business costs, Wang's shop revenue per year is between 700, 000 ¨C 800, 000 RMB (roughly $107, 000 ¨C $123, 000).
