Alright, so I think most will agree that Aang's tattoos are about the only thing that M. Night got right in The Last Airbender. I'm sure everyone knows what Aang's tattoos look like in TLA, but in case you don't, here is a link:

[link]

The next two are of traditional Thai/Buddhist tattoos..but I want us to focus on the one below the neck area, and the corresponding on in the next link.

[link]

[link]

Fist, I would like to point out that the Airbending tattoos in TLA are obviously based on traditional Buddhist tattoos with some minor adjustments for series elements and written language.

Second, does anyone know anybody that has gotten a Buddhist tattoo? I have been informed that only men can get them done the traditional way by monks with a bamboo needle. This is pretty discouraging, because--being a female--I won't be able to get one the traditional way. I would have to get it done in some Thai tattoo parlor :[

I love the way the airbending tattoos look, and I would love to get one on my back similar to the the one Aang has on his back. A fan drew them out almost completely correct in the following link so you can see them flat and in detail. The picture expands so you can see it better:

[link]

If i did get this, I think I would like to substitute the fake airbending language with a real language like Thai, which is a beautifully written language. Personally, these tattoos are just very aesthetically pleasing, and they can carry a lot of meaning depending on what is written.

I know to be sensitive to the culture and religion, If I ever did get something like this, I would do plenty of research and make sure I didn't get something that didn't say what I thought it did. Also, I'd be perfectly happy if they mutated one of the yantras or some other Buddhist prayer for the tattoo (I believe Angelina Jolie did something like this for her own five lines yantra).

Since I wouldn't be able to get it done by a master monk :'[ I doubt a guy or girl in a tattoo parlor would mind the alterations much. But, I wouldn't do it solely for aesthetic reasons. I mentioned it's pleasing appearance purely because these types of tattoos have a timeless beauty, thus I think it is something I could live with for the rest of my life (unlike any other tattoo ideas I have ever thought about). Besides, many of the traditional tattoos are for protective reasons, prayers, etc. I would wholeheartedly support that.

So, ultimately, I would like you guys' thoughts. Do you think this would be cheesy? Weird? Awesome?