The Polynesian Tattoo stems way back from the earliest days of the Polynesian, Maori and Samoan cultures in the South Pacific. The word ‘Tattoo’ in fact stems from ‘Tatau’, ‘Ta Moko’, ‘Pe”a’ , ‘Tatatau’, words in the languages of the Polynesian tribal cultures; Hawaiian, Tahititian, and Marquesian to name a few.
When did Polynesian tattoos start?
The legacy of Polynesian tattoo began over 2000 years ago and is as diverse as the people who wear them. Once widespread in Polynesian societies across the Pacific Ocean, the arrival of western missionaries in the 19th century forced this unique art form into decline.
Who started Polynesian tattoos?
Captain Cook
Polynesian tattoos are first mentioned by European explorers in their ship logs of the 17th and early 18th centuries, and one of the first visitors to the Pacific islands was the now infamous Captain Cook and his crew aboard the Endeavour.
Why are tattoos significant in Polynesian?
They believed that a tattoo could display a person’s spiritual power, which they referred to as mana. This is why tattoos were so common in Polynesian culture, and why they are still common today. People in ancient Polynesia believed that they were stronger because of the tattoos that they had on their body.
Are Polynesian tattoos religious?
Following a long period of religious repression, stretching from the mid-19th century through the 1970s, tattoos are once again a vital element of Polynesian culture and serve as potent spiritual symbols for those who wear them.
Is it disrespectful to have a Polynesian tattoo?
Plain copying someone else’s tattoo is always disrespectful, because you are stealing their own story. Creating a Polynesian tattoo that tells your own story and being able to say what it represents, shows that you acknowledge and respect the importance of such tattoo and therefore it is not seen as disrespectful.
Can a Filipino get a Polynesian tattoo?
Not only that, symbols found in the Philippines are also found in Polynesian tattooing. Water and fern designs for instance are shared amongst these groups of people. Both groups revere bird motifs as well. Tattooing is not the only similarities we Filipinos have with the Polynesians.
Is it wrong to get a tribal tattoo?
Ideally, if you’re considering a tribal tattoo, it’s part of your culture, ethnicity, and heritage. In which case, it’s not a problem. If it’s not part of your heritage, but you have a full and comprehensive understanding and appreciation of the meaning and significance of tribal tattoos, it can also be ok.
Why do Filipinos have Polynesian tattoos?
Polynesians and Filipinos look at tattoo symbols as sacred and as a mark of identity. They have to be earned. It is a mark of status and rank. A mark that tells of ancestral stories.
