First Aboriginal Facial Tattoo in Taiwan in Nearly a Century
Wednesday, August 6th, 2008A 33-year old woman of the Atayal indigenous tribe in eastern Taiwan is the first Atayal woman to have a facial tattoo in nearly 100 years. Shayun Foudu told reporters that “facial tattooing is an old cultural tradition of the Atayal tribe. I feel very proud to be able to have a tattoo on my face.”
Facial tattoos among Taiwan’s aboriginal tribes are thought to date back 1400 years, although they were outlawed by Japanese colonial rulers in recent history. Traditionally, a young Atayal woman would have her face tattooed after her first menstrual period. Atayal men would get facial tattoos when they married. Foudu’s husband was also tattooed in accordance with Atayal tradition, although the couple opted to use modern tattooing techniques.
The couple hopes that their tattoos will be met with acceptance, and they are proud of their historic step towards preserving an important Atayal tradition.
Foudu added that if her children wished to have their faces tattooed when they grew older, she would certainly approve.
