A tattoo artist practices at the China Tattoo Convention held in Shenyang, Northeast China's Liaoning Province, on August 5, 2011. Photo: VCG

A street dance teacher in East China was dismissed after a number of parents of his students complained to his employer about his tattoos. 

Lin, who has tattoos on his back and hand, on Tuesday told Btime that he was looking for a new job after being dismissed by the dance club where he taught children and teenagers street dances.

Lin said he was dismissed on Sunday after a few parents of students he taught complained to the club about his tattoos. 

Lin had used a plaster to cover the tattoos on the back of his hand, but the tattoos on his fingers were discovered by parents, who were also unsatisfied with his other part-time job at a bar. 

Lin's experience sparked heated debates online. 

Some Net users on China's Twitter-like Sina Weibo said getting tattoos is a personal choice, and doesn't reflect his ability to teach. Others took the parents' side, saying their children could be influenced by Lin and get their own tattoos. 

Chinese observers noted that tattooing has different levels of acceptance between generations.  Younger people with "tats" are not uncommon nowadays. 

In ancient times tattoos were used to mark criminals, and many older people think tattoos are a negative cultural symbol and people with tattoos are seen as "bad," said Zhu Wei, a professor at the China University of Political Science and Law.

Btime