Sign of the times

Another celebrity inspired by Mao is boxer Mike Tyson, who had a picture of the leader drawn on his bicep after visiting his mausoleum in Beijing.

Since China has become more visible on the world stage its cultural products, including tattoos, have become fashionable.

The 2008 Olympic Games featured the most tattooed bunch of athletes ever assembled.

Naturally, many of them added to their collection, including British archer Laurence Godfrey, who inked a Chinese dragon to go with his Olympic Rings.

Another visitor to Beijing for the Games was David Beckham, who on an earlier trip to Hong Kong had one side of his torso etched in traditional characters, written top to bottom, with the Chinese saying: "Death and life have determined appointments. Riches and honors depend upon heaven."

Like Beckham, megastar Angelina Jolie, has a one-world approach to her collection, mixing tattoos from different cultures to create her living canvas.

In addition to the Tennessee Williams quote "A prayer for the wild at heart, kept in cages", she has "strength of will" in Arabic, "know your rights" in English and a Chinese-style dragon and tiger on her lower back.

Animals have always been popular because they represent characteristics the wearer has, or wishes to possess.

Chinese-style designs are just one among many styles of tattoos - biker, Celtic, Japanese, Maori, erotic, old school and sailor -- that can be picked to adorn the body.

Opting to have a Chinese tat may not signify anything more than people now have a world of choices.

And while celebrities appear to popularize tattoos, it could equally be argued they reflect the general public's fascination with the art form in recent decades.

Tattoos have become mainstream because they are seen as mainly decorative. Pop culture icons give them a stamp of approval.