Taiwan's Tattoo Culture Transitions From Taboo to Fashion Statement
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From Underground Ink to Mainstream Art: The Evolution of Taiwan’s Tattoo Culture
Once seen as taboo and associated with gang culture, tattoos in Taiwan are undergoing a transformation — from underground symbols to mainstream expressions of identity, tradition and personal style.
At the heart of this evolution is tattoo artist Hori Fu, who began his career over 40 years ago, when tattooing was considered a shadowy subculture. “I was interested in it, so I began doing research and looking for books,” he said. “Back then, there weren’t many books. I remember only finding a single Japanese magazine in the end.”
Fu started tattooing at age 16, long before the art form found social acceptance in Taiwan. During that time, tattoo parlors often drew suspicion from law enforcement. “Back then, even our signboard attracted attention from the police,” he recalled. “They wouldn’t let us hang it up because they worried that it might attract gang members to gather here. So at that time [tattooing] was basically an underground culture.”
Tattoos in Taiwan were often tied to gang affiliations and religious iconography. “Taiwan has a ‘zhen tou’ culture related to temple festivals,” Fu said. “In these temple festivals there are the deities they worship, like Qiye and Baye, or Guan Jiang Shou. At one point, a lot of young people started getting tattoos of those figures.”
But the stigma surrounding tattoos is fading fast. Today, body ink is embraced by people from all walks of life — from doctors and artists to students and retirees. “In recent years gangster-themed movies became popular in Taiwan,” said Kevin Li, chair of the Taiwan Tattoo Union. “The media has also been supportive of this genre. In the past, if you saw someone whose hands or feet were covered in tattoos, people would assume they were part of a gang. Nowadays, you see that kind of look everywhere.”
Taiwan’s growing tattoo scene includes annual expos that draw thousands of enthusiasts. “[It is] a trend and I wanted to get a tattoo,” said one attendee. “Since then, I haven’t stopped.” Another said, “This is Taiwan’s goddess, Mazu. Mazu means a lot to me, so I wanted a tattoo of her. For example, I am a driver and I would feel blessed with her on me.”
The art form’s diversity is also expanding. “I feel like there's much more freedom in styles now,” said tattoo artist Moju. “Back when I was still an apprentice, there weren’t that many styles and there were only traditional shops.”
With roughly 6,000 tattoo artists now operating in Taiwan, according to the Taiwan Tattoo Union, the industry is no longer operating in the shadows. Artists like Fu can run their businesses openly, offering not just ink, but stories — each one permanently etched into the skin of a changing society.
