Tattooing is an undergarment whose history began more than five thousand years ago. To put on the body the image of various objects and images, people began to protect themselves from evil spirits, using tattoos as amulets. Polynesian style - one of the areas that are in demand until today.
Tattoos that are called Maori are from the eponymous tribe living on the islands of the Pacific Ocean. The history of images goes far back in time and has a deep hidden meaning. Initially, tattoos were used to display the status of their owner, which could be seen by everyone around him.
The first began to use body-worn images of the leaders of the Maori tribe, who with the help of tattoos gained courage and courage, because at that time tattooing on the body was a very long and painful process. At the moment, a Maori tattoo is an original and bold decision that relates to the Polynesian style.
Maori tattoos and their meaning
For residents of the Pacific Islands, the tattoo served as an integral attribute, its absence on the body was considered a sign of bad taste and was equated with sin. Moreover, a man who did not have tattoos was considered a coward, with no respect for the gods and revered leaders. At that time, the ritual of tattooing the body was severe and painful; only a brave and full of strength could cope with it.
Maori tribes call their tattoos in a special way - mocha. They believed that the body pattern is the only thing that is eternal and cannot be taken away by anyone. At the same time, tattoos were equally popular both among the representatives of the stronger sex and among girls. The inhabitants of the tribe believed that the body is an analogue of the universe, so tattoos were applied to the lines of energy flows, so that you could change your destiny. Thus, they protected themselves from misfortunes, corrected their character and deprived themselves of bad habits, attracting success, joy and good luck to life.
Application technology
For drawing an image on the body, sharp bones of fish and birds (for example, sharks) were used, as well as knives, shells and special stencils. Often the drawings were depicted on the face, showing their courage, the history of life and battles. At the same time, the tattoo on her face looked frightening, what horrified her enemies. The tattooing ritual was very painful and life-threatening, and sometimes even deadly.
In the modern world of tattoo Maori - this is nothing else, as an original decoration, which can be decided only by the brave. Now for applying Maori tattoos use special Indian needles, which made the process safer and not so painful. Now the tattoo heals much faster, and the risk of infection has decreased to zero. However, if traveling to find true followers of the Maori tribe, then you can make sure that they now also apply tattoos on the body with a stencil and knife or shark tooth.
Female Maori tattoos and their features
Tattoos on the body of the girls also had a place to be, however, they were radically different from the men's tattoos. First of all, women's tattoos were more accurate, took up little space on the body. Usually girls placed different images on their lips, near the nose or chin. Thus, they encrypted information about themselves and their families. By drawing on the face of the girl it was possible to find out how many children she has and how successful her chosen one is.
Also, women of the Maori tribe put a tattoo on hidden areas of the body - hips, groin or abdomen. Such drawings were personal, used as decoration, attracting the representatives of the stronger sex. In this case, the girls were forbidden to apply tattoos that do not correspond to the real information about them. Cheating was punishable by death, as it was impossible to make a tattoo.
Past and Present for Polynesian Tattoos
As you know, before Maori tattoos were usually applied to the face, other parts of the body were used much less frequently. At the same time, colored pigments were mined in two ways:
- Black color was extracted from trees and their bark, and drawings in black color were applied only on the face.
- Colored paint was made from dead from infection with fungus caterpillars, mixed with various local plants.
Today, more civilized methods are used to create tattoos in the Maori style. With the help of modern paints and pigments, original patterns and drawings are created, conveying the attractiveness of tattoos of the time, but they are less painful and absolutely safe.
Brave men prefer to put an ornament on their face, showing their courage and masculinity. By the way, before the tattoo on the face was an analogue of a passport, because by understanding the symbols one could find out the status of a person, his occupation and age, marital and social status, the history of battles and victories.
For more information about Maori facial tattoo:
- Tattoo around the eyebrows - demonstrates social status.
- Center forehead - describes the personal discharge.
- The area under the nose - the signature of the owner of tattoos.
- Cheeks - display of activity.
- The cheekbones and jaw contain information about birth and parents.
- Whiskey - marital status, number of children.
- Chin - tattoo symbolizes belonging to one of the estates.
Maori tattoo designs and their meaning
The most popular tattoos used by residents of the Maori tribe:
- Shark - protection and guardian against evil forces.
- Dolphin - a symbol of the unity of man with nature.
- Twisted spiral - loyalty, dedication.
- Masks Maori - applied only to the face and used as a guardian against evil spirits.
- The sun is a source of wisdom and male power, is used as a charm, and also personifies life, the process of rebirth.
- Heron is a sacred bird capable of leading a person to the afterlife. At the same time, a heron is a symbol of the purity of a person’s spiritual world.
- Turtle - spiritual and moral peace, the personification of wisdom and longevity.
- Iguana or lizard - strength, stamina and speed. Usually used as an amulet for warriors, giving them strength and confidence.
- Slope - a dangerous resident of the depths, which serves as a talisman and protects against enemies.
- The disk is a circle symbolizing infinity. Usually the space inside the circle was filled with patterns, increasing the protective force of the amulet.
- White Egret and Magpie - a symbol of pure spirit and prosperity. At the same time, it was believed that this tattoo allows everyone to find peace, to find their way through life.
