Runcible Blog

Chong-Jik "Honesty"

First off, I don't shave very often, but I've only ever used a Mach 3 razor, until now. And I never had any problems with it (no missing limbs so far). Since the blades were getting old, I wanted to replace them but ended up buying the cheaper Sensor 3...because it's cheaper, and I'm cheap. It looks pretty similar -- three blades, some other suspension thingys, plastic doodads. But it's junk! It doesn't work as well and causes razor burn quite easily. What gives? I think the cheaper ones are intentionally made to lower standards (maybe that's just obvious). How hard is it to make these things?

Anyway, so I got the tattoo above today at Dragon's Lair in Salem, NH. Before getting it I went across the street to the Korean grocery store to make sure I had looked up the right word. There were a couple women there who were very friendly and helpful. They corrected my pronunciation (Chong-Jik rather than Jong-Jik) and said that it's a very powerful word that means more than honesty. I should've asked them to elaborate. One woman was talking about how her son has a bunch of tattoos and that he spent $25,000 on a dragon. Unfortunately, since many Koreans are hardcore Christians, she freaked out and had to pray for him. She also scoffed at the tattoo on my back "What is that, Buddha?!". Haha. sorry!

She also told me not to put it where I decided because people don't "respect" the bottom half of the body. It would be more prudent to write "honesty" somewhere more visible like on my arm. But I had already decided where to put it. I was thinking about it later and noticed that the word sits right at the spot where the hands go when making the "dyana mudra" during meditation. If I touch thumbs, chong-jik should show between the "mystic triangle". So, I think it's a powerful word in a significant spot.

It didn't hurt much at all (probably because there's nothing boney around). And it only took about 15 minutes, it seemed. All in all, it's a good experience and a meaningful sentiment.

I just have to make sure I don't get really fat so that it doesn't look like an unsightly blob on a pot-belly.