Hong Kong’s tattoo culture is undergoing a remarkable metamorphosis, transforming from a symbol of the criminal underworld into a refined form of poetic self-expression. While in the mid-20th century, tattoos in Hong Kong were merely a service for foreign sailors and soldiers, and later a formidable attribute of triad members, the situation has drastically changed today. A new generation of artists, predominantly women, are resolutely abandoning the aggressive aesthetics of the past. Instead of fierce tigers and dragons rendered with bold lines, they are transferring the heritage of great Chinese culture onto skin: elements of traditional Guohua painting, calligraphy, and profound Buddhist meanings.