Regarding the cause of this custom, the book Linh Nam Chic Quai (Hong Bang Thi Story) records: At that time, people in the mountains who went to the water to fish were often injured by the stream, so together they told the king about it. . The king said, “The varieties in the mountains are different from those in the water. The species in the water only like what is similar to us and hate what is different from us, so we are harmed.” Then, the king ordered everyone to take the color of the water monster tattoo on their body. From then on, no more injuries caused by the flux. The custom of drawing oneself of Bach Viet people started since then.
In order to confirm
the reason for tattooing of the ancient Vietnamese, the Dictionary of Vietnamese Rituals also records: Ancient Vietnamese from 2000-3000 years ago had the custom of tattooing baseball jerseys custom water monsters (dragons, snakes ..) on their stomach, chest, etc. back, legs, arms…. Legend has it that in the past, people used to swim in rivers to find food, so they tattooed their bodies to avoid being harmed by sea monsters and mingle with animals in the water, from which they could hunt them.
From the Ly - Tran dynasties onward, especially during the Tran dynasties, from kings and mandarins to chi subjects, everyone liked to have tattoos on their bodies and for those in the royal family, serving in the court were forced to have tattoos on their bodies. consider it as a law that must be enforced. During the reign of King Tran Anh Tong (1293 - 1314) he objected to this, because the king was very afraid of needles being inserted into his skin, even though Emperor Tran Nhan Tong prepared to tattoo Anh Tong. Therefore, in the future, whoever wants to get tattooed is not a rule anymore.
According to historical records
in order to show the determination to destroy foreign invaders and protect the village of Xa Tac, in 1285, all Tran Dynasty military officers tattooed on their arms the two words "Sat That" (killing the Tat army, ie. Mongols). The book of Dai Viet historical records toan Thu says: "On the 12th, the enemy troops fought Gia Lam, Vu Ninh, and Dong Ngan, captured many of our troops, seeing that everyone liked the two words "Sat That" written in ink on their arms, ie. very, kill them all."
Not stopping there
under the Tran dynasty, members of the Thanh Duc army who 3D printed hoodie protected the faraway price tattooed on their forehead the three words Thien Tu Quan (Thien Tu Army); or people often tattooed on their stomachs the words "Nghia Quy Quynh Khuyen" and "slander of Bao Quoc" expressing the spirit of martial arts, for the sake of risking life and repaying the country's gratitude.
Thus, the ancient Vietnamese custom of tattooing not only shows harmony with nature, but also means determination to fight the enemy; even a form of beauty of the contemporaries.
Truong Son