이 연구는 우리나라 문신의 제 양상과 그 특징을 밝히는데 목적이 있다. 문신에 대한 역사적 기록은 많지 않지만, 그 기록을 최대한 수집하고 정리하여 그 실상을 밝히려 하였다. 중국의 역사서 삼국지와 후한서에는 삼한시대의 마한과 변진에 문신하는 습속이 있었다고 기록되어 있다. 삼한시대의 문신은 교룡의 피해를 막기 위한 주술문신이었다. 그 후 문신에 대한 기록은 보이지 않다가 고려시대에 다시 나타난다. 고려시대의 문신은 주로 절도죄를 벌하기 위한 형벌문신이었다. 이러한 형벌문신은 조선시대까지 지속되었다. 또한 조선시대에는 사랑하는 사람의 이름을 팔뚝에 새기는 ‘연비’라는 애정문신이 존재했다.우리나라의 문신의 특징으로는 먼저 삼한시대 이후 지금까지 ‘비문신사회’였음을 들 수 있다. 자연적 환경과 문화적 환경이라는 요인 때문에 문신사회가 될 수 없었다. 다음으로는 ‘직접적인 표현의 글자 문신’을 들 수 있다. 문신이 금지된 사회였기에 다양한 문신이 발달하기 어려워 문신하고자 하는 내용이 직접 표현되는 글자문신이 주로 행해졌다. 마지막으로 ‘드러내기에 대한 감추기’를 들 수 있다. 문신의 일반적인 목적이 ‘드러내기’임에 반하여 문신이 금지된 우리나라에서는 자연스럽게 ‘감추기’를 하게 되었다.

The purpose of this study is to clarify the appearances and characteristics that Korean folk tattoos have. Though there is not much historical records on tattoos, in this study is made an effort to collect those records as much as possible and to analyze in order to find out the real facts on them. According to Samgukji and Huhanseo, the Chinese historical records, there had been tattoo customs in Mahan, Byeonhan, and Jinhan in the Era of Three Dynasties of Hans. The tattoos in the Era of Three Dynasties of Hans had a sorcerous purpose in order to prevent the damages caused by a dragon. Afterwards, a record on tattoos disappeared and then appeared again in the Era of Korea Dynasty. Unlike those in the Era of Three Dynasties of Hans, the tattoos in Korea Dynasty were used as a punishment for robbery or theft. Tattoo’s usage for punishment purpose continued till Chosun Dynasty. Besides, in Chosun Dynasty, a tattoo was also used for showing affection for lovers, named ‘Yeonbi,’ through which the name of a lover was inscribed on the forearm. As characteristics of Korean folk tattoos, first of all, Korean society has been ‘without tattoos’ since the Era of Three Dynasties of Hans. Due to natural and cultural factors, it could not develop to be a society with tattoos. Second, Korean tattoos have a characteristic of a ‘directly expressed tattoo with letters.’ Since the society banned tattoos, it was almost impossible to develop various types of tattoos and rather, mere letter tattoos through which the contents intended to tattoo were directly expressed developed. Finally, Korean tattoos have a characteristic of ‘to conceal against to exhibit.’ While the general purpose of a tattoo is ‘to exhibit,’ it was natural ‘to conceal’ tattoos in Korea, where tattoos were tabooed.

The purpose of this study is to clarify the appearances and characteristics that Korean folk tattoos have. Though there is not much historical records on tattoos, in this study is made an effort to collect those records as much as possible and to analyze in order to find out the real facts on them. According to Samgukji and Huhanseo, the Chinese historical records, there had been tattoo customs in Mahan, Byeonhan, and Jinhan in the Era of Three Dynasties of Hans. The tattoos in the Era of Three Dynasties of Hans had a sorcerous purpose in order to prevent the damages caused by a dragon. Afterwards, a record on tattoos disappeared and then appeared again in the Era of Korea Dynasty. Unlike those in the Era of Three Dynasties of Hans, the tattoos in Korea Dynasty were used as a punishment for robbery or theft. Tattoo’s usage for punishment purpose continued till Chosun Dynasty. Besides, in Chosun Dynasty, a tattoo was also used for showing affection for lovers, named ‘Yeonbi,’ through which the name of a lover was inscribed on the forearm. As characteristics of Korean folk tattoos, first of all, Korean society has been ‘without tattoos’ since the Era of Three Dynasties of Hans. Due to natural and cultural factors, it could not develop to be a society with tattoos. Second, Korean tattoos have a characteristic of a ‘directly expressed tattoo with letters.’ Since the society banned tattoos, it was almost impossible to develop various types of tattoos and rather, mere letter tattoos through which the contents intended to tattoo were directly expressed developed. Finally, Korean tattoos have a characteristic of ‘to conceal against to exhibit.’ While the general purpose of a tattoo is ‘to exhibit,’ it was natural ‘to conceal’ tattoos in Korea, where tattoos were tabooed.

tattoo, tattoo for sorcerous use, tattoo for punishment use, tattoo for showing affection for lovers, letter tattoo, Yeonbi