Peony flower drawings can be interpreted as a symbol of love and devotion, and in some cases can be a reminder of a loved one’s life.
But a new study from the University of Edinburgh shows the art has also been used for the illegal sale of illegal drugs, including cannabis.
The study looked at images of the flower of a peony and the name of the person whose portrait was to be displayed on a tattoo.
Researchers found that the flower and the person’s name were paired in an art form known as tattooing, where the flower was meant to symbolize affection, loyalty and devotion.
The tattoo artist, the owner of the shop and the seller all used the peony to signify their love for their customer, with the person being given a name of their own, the researchers found.
Peony flower tattoos were most common among people in the East Asian region, according to the study, published in the Journal of Forensic Science.
The artists used peony flowers as the central motif of the artwork, which featured a male peony sitting atop a woman with a peon.
Researchers said it was likely that people who wanted to sell their own tattoos to a friend or relative had found the artwork attractive.
The art forms’ popularity is increasing, with tattoo shops and tattoo parlours increasingly popping up across the world, including in the United States.
In Australia, a new tattoo shop is under construction that aims to provide tattooing services to the public, with services expected to start in March.