Скачать или смотреть Face Tattoos for Chinese Ethnic Group a Disappearing Tradition

In a village in southwest China's Yunnan Province where the extremely secluded Derung ethnic group lives, it's a tradition. In fact, Derung women have carried on this symbol of their ethnic culture for more than three hundred years, according to locals.

"It was my husband who asked me to tattoo my face. He thought it was beautiful. And it seemed a better choice for all the women back then," said Dan Ji, who lives in Longyuan Village of Gongshan County.

Dan's case is rare among Derung women, for most received their tattoos before marriage. It was even difficult to imagine that a woman without facial tattoos could get married.

The practice gradually came to an end, following the founding of new China in 1949.

"Almost all of the tattooists here have passed away. And now there are no regulations requiring women to have their faces tattooed unconditionally. This allows the next generations to stay beautiful, unlike us, who have these tattoos on our faces our whole lives," said Jiang Guiqing, also a Longyuan villager.

Derung women, at the age of 12 or 13, would use bamboo needles to puncture the skin and color it with soot and herbal extracts.

The reasons given for this tattooing tradition varies.

Some say it may have helped women avoid sexual attacks or enslavement by making them look unsightly. Others believe the tattoos were actually meant to enhance beauty.

"I don't think it looks beautiful. It was okay for me, since there weren't many mirrors available back then. But now, when I look at myself in the mirror, I see my whole face in black. It's not beautiful," said Dan.

"If technology can help me remove the tattoo from my face, I would like to do that. I think face-tattooing is a bad custom. We were obliged to have it back then," said Jiang.

Experts say about three hundred Derung women with facial tattoos were alive in the 1960s, but now, fewer than 30 remain.

The practice serves as a window into the Derung's unknown past, and yet also as a legacy destined to disappear.

Derung ethnic group is one of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the China. It has its own spoken language, but no written language.

Life for the Derung in the village remains simple, with men hunting for food while women gathering seeds and nuts. Although some have converted to Christianity, the vast majority continue to believe in their native animist religion. More on: http://www.cctvplus.com/news/20160816...

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