InkSmith Journal delves into the deep-rooted tattoo traditions of Southeast Asia and the world, from ancient practices to modern revival, connecting past and present through ink. From the sacred Sak Yant of Thailand to the lost tattooing traditions of Vietnam and the bold artistry of irezumi, tattooing has always been a language of its own.
Loyalty, Punishment, and Ink: Tattooed Bodies in the Song Dynasty
How a medieval Chinese empire wrote its fears, values, and discipline directly onto human skin.
When we think of ancient Chinese tattoos, we might imagine mythical beasts, flowing calligraphy, or outlaws with dragon sleeves. But during the Song dynasty (960–1279 CE), tattoos served a very different function. They weren’t art. They were bureaucracy. Discipline. Shame. Loyalty. Control.
In this period of high culture and tight surveillance, the body itself became an archive — of loyalty to the state, punishment for crimes, or stories of rebellion. Tattoos weren’t decorative: they were state-sanctioned inscriptions meant to bind, brand, and broadcast identity.