Maori Tribal tattoos

Maori is a tribe that is found in New Zealand and was the originator of the Maori Tribal tattoo. Although they are counted as part of the widely known Polynesian heritage, the tribe has its own different cultural heritage which historians have laid apart from other Polynesian tribes.

The same can be said for the tattoos that they have. This is because Maori tribal designs entail their own special identity as compared to all other Polynesian counterparts. Their curved and spiral shapes make a complicated pattern that identifies the Maori. According o legend, a youthful warrior got to learn about the Maori tribes from the king of the ancient underworld, after managing to win back the heart belonging to the daughter of the king.

As far as the Maori are concerned, tattoos present are included in special rituals that celebrated a special or particular event that occurred in the life of a tribesman. A tribesman would get their first tattoo as way of showing that they have moved from childhood onto adolescent and were therefore liable for more tattoos with every life milestone that they undertook and needed to be celebrated. A tribesman that was to be given the award of a tattoo was needed to fast before they were given a tattoo. During the ceremony there was chanting and music because it was a celebration for the whole tribe and not only for the tribesman.

 

Both women and men can be given the Maori tribal tattoo to symbolize strength and courage and after that they would have a particular status within the tribe. Tattoos for the men would be on their entire faces while those of the women would cover their cheeks as well as lips although the tattoos would extend to the neck. Maori tattoos are commonly known for the face tattoos. However, there are designs that can be used for other body parts specifically the buttocks and legs. The tattoos placed on the body will be very similar to those that are on the face with a small difference being on the spirals and curves. 

Most people know Maori tribal designs are because of the face tattoos they entail. However there are some designs that normally go to the buttocks and legs specifically. The body tattoos closely resemble the face designs with the disparity coming in the spirals and curves being bigger as well as easily seen compared to face tattoos. Presently, the Maori tribal design is undergoing revival after they almost became extinct in the latter part of the 19th century.

Much of its meaning has been lost and this can be attributed to the coming of European settlers to New Zealand but it is being revived slowly and this includes how the tattoo was put n in ancient days. However, tribal tattoos today are placed on body parts instead of the face. Modern equipment use has replaced the old approach as well.

Despite the Maori trial designs modernization, there remains one part that the Maori has kept. This s ensuring that the tattoo is unique because a tattoo symbolizes the identity of a person. To make a copy of a Maori design that is already in existence completely insults the Maori from which you have copied. Therefore get a Maori tribal tattoo that is special.