The Samoan warrior’s tattoo began at the waist and extended to just below the knee. He usually tattooed groups of six to eight (usually men) during a ceremony attended by friends and relatives. The tattoo artist held a hereditary and by the same vein, a very highly privileged position. In ancient Samoa, tattooing also played a hugely important role in both reglious rituals and warfare. For the Tongan people, the tattoo carried profound social and cultural significance, as mentioned previously. Priests who had undergone a long period of training who followed strictly prescribed rituals and taboos that took place during the tattooing process.
#Circle of life tattoo series
Tongan warriors were tattooed form the waist to the knees with a series of geometrical patterns, mostly consisting of repeated triangle motifs, bands and also areas of solid black.ĭwayne “The Rock” Johnson proudly displays for his large, traditional Polynesian tattoo It was in Tonga and Samoa that the Polynesian tattoo developed into a highly refined art. The revival of the art and practice of tattooing, particularly in Tonga, in recent years is predominantly referred to as a result of the work of scholars, researchers, visual artists and tattoo artists. Since it’s renaissance in the 1980s, many lost arts were revived but it became very difficult to sterilise the wooden and bone tools that were used for the tattooing process so the Ministry of Health banned tattooing in French Polynesia in 1986. The actual tradition of Polynesian tattooing existed more than 2000 years ago, however in the 18th century the Old Testament strictly banned the operation.
He also brought a Tahitian named Ma’i to Europe and since then tattoo started to become rapidly famous, predominently because of the tattoos of Ma’i.Īnother legend is that European sailors liked the Polynesian tattoos so much that they spread extremely fast in Europe because the sailors emblazoned the tattoos on their own bodies. He narrated the behaviours of the Polynesian people in his voyage, which he called tattaw.
In 1771, when James Cook first returned to Tahiti and New Zealand from his first voyage, the word “tattoo” appeared in Europe. However, the European navigators showed little interest due to the lack of valuable resources.Ĭaptain James Cook (as mentioned in our comprehensive guide to Maori tattooing) was the first navigator trying to explore the aforementioned Polynesian triangle. The Polynesian islands that were first first visited were the Marquesas Islands, which were found by European explorers and the Spanish navigator, Alvaro de Mendana de Neira, in 1595. Nearly everyone in ancient Polynesian society was tattooed. Tattoos would indicate status in a hierarchical society as well as sexual maturity, genealogy and ones rank within the society.
#Circle of life tattoo full
Historically there was no writing in Polynesian culture so the Polynesian’s used tattoo art that was full of distinctive signs to express their identity and personality. These words are rather similar and this reflects how closely related Polynesian cultures are with the ocean, as they believe that the ocean guarantees life. Moana (ocean) and mana (spiritual force and energy) are two terms that transcend all Polynesian cultures. There are some words, which are basically the same throughout all Polynesian languages, reflecting the deepest core of all Polynesian cultures. However, Polynesian languages may actually vary slightly from each other, and in some cases they actually differ quite significantly. The people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are termed Polynesians and they share many similar traits including language, culture and beliefs. Southeast Asia and in turn, Polynesia are sub-regions of Oceania, comprising of a large grouping of over 1000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean, within a triangle that encompasses New Zealand, Hawaii and Easter Island as it’s corners. All of these tribes are genetically linked to the indigenous peoples from parts of Southeast Asia. One thing that is certain is that the term Polynesian or Polynesia incorporates many tribes including Marquesans, Samoans, Niueans, Tongans, Cook Islanders, Hawaiians, Tahitians and Maori. There is still debate over the definitive origins of Polynesian culture and that transfers also, to the notion of tattooing.
Source: The Polynesian Tattoo Handbook The origins of Polynesian society This article will give you an in-depth look into Polynesian Tattoo Art
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