It was becuase jack wasnt part of the culture. when i was in nepal... no matter how welcomeing and open you are to the new culture... there are always the thugs who dont want your western influence ( despite us not imposing any influence) the point being.... her brother ( i think ) was one of those people and its quite possible the tattoos she has talent in creating are specifically for those people in her culture who share the common belief in the tatts meaning and her skills in creating them. kinda like a right of passage for young people in that culture or something!

I also dont think anything is scary about them... I think it is HUGELY important that Jack knew that his tatos meant something different than what they actually say! They meant what bai ling told him. that he is a leader... etc....