Job Discussion Forums

abliss · Joined: 26 Jan 2003 Posts: 6

I know in Japan there are cultural taboos in regard to tattoos. Are they a problem in China? Should I always where long sleeves? Will I make people at the beach uncomfortable? Should I take out some of my sixteen piercings? That was a joke. The tattoo thing wasn't. Thanks.

davidm · Joined: 30 Mar 2003 Posts: 2 Location: Baltimore, MD, USA

I'm afraid I can't answer your question, but I can add to it. How do the Chinese feel about long (almost shoulder length) hair and earrings (cartilage piercings) on men? Would these be obstacles to getting a job?

David

xiaoyu · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2003 9:21 pm Post subject:

depending on where you are in china tattoos can be seen as unacceptable. they are usually attributed to being seen only on "bad people". however, i went there with 2 tattoos (both of which can be covered easily - shoulder blade and pelvis). it didn't cause much of a problem, though it was disconcerting in public saunas when a lady would come up to me and try to touch them while i was showering! however, i don't think it was a big deal. my students and i talked about it and i explained how it is not something that makes you a "bad element of society"..... though i think it woudl depend on how many you had..... if you are a canvas it might cause more of a stir...

in regards to the piercings.... i have not a clue.... saw very little of it in northeastern china..... though think it would depend on how urban the area was and how many piercings there actually were....

xiaoyu

MartinK · Joined: 01 Mar 2003 Posts: 344

MyTurnNow · Joined: 19 Mar 2003 Posts: 860 Location: Outer Shanghai

I can reinforce the negative associations of tattoos here. Acceptable if you were a soldier. A _male_ soldier.

I can also add that piercings other than ears are not well thought of and can indeed affect your job marketability. Once in a very great while I'll see a tiny, tiny nose stud on some of the more avant-garde Chinese girls and, of course, on the omnipresent hookers. But no tongues, eyebrows, or anything more intimate.

Long hair, however, doesn't have as many problems. It does get some looks but its hard to tell how many of these are just the hair. Very Happy

My hair is well down over my shoulders (I'm a guy) and I am often asked if I am an artist. "Bull*beep* artist" is my usual response. Wink

MT

Seth · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 575 Location: in exile

I have two rather large dragon tattoos on each upper arm, exactly the kind Chinese gangsters have (which wasn't my intent, BTW). If I wear a t-shirt the tails slightly stick out. I've never had negative comments, but that may just be Chinese politeness. Most say they're very beautiful. Some say it's very 'modern' which is the Chinese way of saying 'decadent.' (IE 'That girl is very modern, she has 4 boyfriends.') I went to a sauna once with my boss, he liked them. At least he said he did!

MrWright · Joined: 27 Feb 2008 Posts: 167 Location: Arizona

I see this thread is almost a decade old. Thought i'd ask if anyone has an updated opinion. I have 2 full sleeves. Colorful and of good quality, mostly Buddhist themed, but it's still some extensive ink. I can cover them with long sleeves, but some does peek out on my wrists. Is this a deal breaker? Have attitudes there changed?

xiguagua · Joined: 09 Oct 2011 Posts: 768

Somewhat. It's still considered taboo and something that "bad people" have, but i'm seeing them more and more on Chinese. They like to get small things on their hands which doesn't make sense because you can't cover your hands much......and if they are taboo to the older generation you can't really cover that.

I know people with tattoos, I don't think many people will shy away from you as they know foreigners like them, but expect to be asked about them ALL THE TIME. I've seen several teachers with them, one with super long dreads and a long beard and he's rastafarian but he still has a job.

GeminiTiger · Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 4:39 am Post subject:

Clearly tattoos are a lot more common then a decade ago in China among many of the locals, but I still think they carry their fare share of stigma as a slightly bad-boy, bad-girl, gangster boss image.

Babala · Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 1303 Location: Henan

I think they are still a deal-breaker for many schools. I have a few friends who have very visible tattoo's on their arms. They have to cover them up with long sleeves. It's pretty uncomfortable in the summer so make sure wherever you go has air-conditioning.

There are more Chinese getting tattoo's but I would say it's still a fairly new thing and only popular for the under 25 crowd.

There is a foreign owned tattoo shop in Suzhou (a friend of mine owns it). His family owns a company that makes tattoo ink for export so all the ink they use is much better then the stuff available here. If you are in Suzhou, it's called China Ink and located at Ligongdi.

mandu · Joined: 29 Jul 2004 Posts: 794 Location: china

I have a 11 tattoos dont have to cover them up,here in Shenzhen theres a Tattoo shop called Lotus ink the girl is Chinese she is very good at doing tattoos.

GeminiTiger · Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 6:56 am Post subject:

I was in Suzhou about 3 weeks ago now at INCITY sipping on my iced Venti Americano when my girlfriend and myself both felt a bit of shock after seeing a white male aged about 50 with fully inked arms from wrist to shoulders.

I assume, but wonder, if he was a skilled technician, because he DID not look like a teacher or manager.

That was just my impression but I'm sure a lot of people share it.

Miles Smiles · Joined: 07 Jun 2010 Posts: 1294 Location: Heebee Jeebee

The Chinese just love long hair and tattoos on men.

Lobster · Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 2:56 pm Post subject:

China is pretty conservative about things like that, but of course it depends on the individual. Back in the day, the only people who had tats and piercings were gang bikers, drunken soldiers and sailors, jailbirds and losers who thought they looked cool. Now they are common among people who just want to look like outlaw bikers, drunken soldiers and sailors, jailbirds and losers who think it looks cool. They're radical-looking people with mundane, sub-culture flock mentalities. Foreigners know that they're just trying hard to look cool, but many older Chinese may not get it.

RED

Miles Smiles · Joined: 07 Jun 2010 Posts: 1294 Location: Heebee Jeebee

Last year, I saw a mobile tattoo parlor in a van. I've seen a few bare-chested guys walking around showing off a tattoo.

There was a hooker who stood on a corner on payday Fridays. She had a really interesting-looking green and blue tattoo of a scorpion above her knee. I'm not too sure I'd even consider going within striking distance of her,