Maori Design Tattoo
im looking for one to put on my arm. could anyone of you help me finding one.
dont worry im born and raised in hawaii. i want to rep my culture.
Are you polynesian? If you are, then you should be able to find one that is significant to your family. If you’re not…don’t get one. It’s disrespectful to the culture and the people for whom it actually has meaning. You’d be pretty pissed if you saw your family crest on someone’s arm who was not even related to you, right? That is what it is like for all the Hawaiins, Samoans, Polynesians, Maori etc who have had their ancient family tattoos turned into cheap flash for white people. Hawaiians are still pretty mad about us making their country into one of our states, so let’s not propogate the madness by getting a tribal, eh?
Find an artist who specializes in tribal tattoos and ask him/her to design one that has the same look but none of the cultural meaning. Most artists have many books around for inspiration, and should be able to help you design something custom. You are showing respect for the culture without ripping it off, and the chances of it being copied are greatly diminished.
ADD: Sweet. Most people I know with tribals are white dudes with big pick-up trucks. Ask members of your extended family if there are symbols special to the family or try looking into public records.
Hidden Meanings Behing Maori Tattoo Designs
From Eastern Polynesia to New Zealand.
According to archaeological evidence, tattooing came to New Zealand from Eastern Polynesian culture.
In some early Eastern Polynesian sites and in archaeological sites in New Zealand, tattooing bone chisels were found. Although the Maori practiced tattooing, there is no evidence that the Moriori people did.
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Finding the widest chisel blades in the early sites in New Zealand proves that there is a preference towards rectilinear tattoo patterns.
The head was considered the most sacred part of the body, and because tattooing caused blood to run the tattoo craftsmen, or “tohunga-ta-oko”, were very tapu persons. All high-ranking Maori were tattooed, and those who went without tattoos were seen as persons of no social status.
Many rites and rituals occur at puberty, including tattooing. In addition to making a warrior attractive to women, the tattoo practice marked both rites of passage and important events in a person’s life.
There were certain prohibitions during the tattooing process; and for the facial tattoo in particular sexual intimacy and the eating of solid foods were prohibited. To ensure that no contaminating product will come into contact with the swollen skin, water and the liquid food will be drained into a wooden funnel. There is just no choice; until the wounds heal, this is the sole solution if a tattooed person would want to eat.
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The full faced tattoo was very time consuming, and a good tattoo craftsman would carefully study a person’s bone structure before commencing his art.
Often, leaves from the native Karaka tree were to be placed over the inflamed tattoo cuts to fasten the healing process, because this is extremely long and painful. Wars were frequent, and the warriors had little time for recuperation. To help soothe the pain, flute music and chant poems were performed during the tattooing process.
Tattoos of swirling double spirals on both buttocks are what warriors from the North Auckland have, even though tattoos were mainly facial.
Unlike the men, women are not as comprehensively tattooed. The upper lips were outlined usually in dark blue. The nostrils were also very finely incised. From then until into 1970s, the ever most popular will be the chin moko.
From the maoris point of view taking from their culture without asking them or having a design on you that is a replica is a weakening of their identity in terms of their culture, westernising them further through the stealing of their heritage and also they feel that they will eventually have nothing left that is sacred and original for them to hold onto in the future.
If you looking for expert advice and the historical implications of tattoos, then you should check out what jennifer has to say! If you would like to find out more about jennifer jackson and the tattoos she writes about Click Here For Maori Tribal Tattoos
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