Captain James Cook was the first navigator that tried to explore the whole Polynesia Triangle. In 1771, when James Cook returned to Tahiti from his first Voyage, he introduced the word “tattoo”. Tattoo he explained was a way the Polynesians delivered information of its owner. It’s also a traditional method to draw spiritual power, protection and strength. The Polynesians use tattoos as a sign of one’s character, their position and the levels in a hierarchy. They also believe that a person’s spiritual power or life force is displayed through their tattoo. Almost every Polynesian got a tattoo in ancient times.
Polynesians believe Tattoo masters are the most critical people because they accept the meaning of symbols and styles in memory and know …show more content…
It depends on the degree of evolution of various traditions from the original common tattoo designs, like Lapita, which is a former Pacific archeological culture. Ancient original styles mainly consist of some simple patterns, like straight lines, repeating on the body. These geometrical styles can be found in Hawaiian and Samoan tattoo traditions. Because the age is too far from today, the meanings of these patterns are almost lost, or at a minimum debatable. The most used styles today, which instead consist of rounded patterns, are from Marquesas Island.
Tattooing is a sacred ceremony in Polynesian culture. The tattoos and their location on the body were determined by one’s genealogy, position within the society and personal achievements. According to the culture of Maori, all high-ranking Māori were tattooed, and those who went without tattoos were seen as people with lowest social level.
Tattooing was operated by high trained shamans in the religious ceremony. The shaman was an expert in the meanings of the tattoo and skills of the art.
Before getting tattooed, a person should experience a long period of cleansing. During this period one would fast for a fixed length of time and abstain from sexual intercourse or contact with women. The tattoo practice generally marked both rites of passage and important events in a person’s
Polynesians believe Tattoo masters are the most critical people because they accept the meaning of symbols and styles in memory and know …show more content…
It depends on the degree of evolution of various traditions from the original common tattoo designs, like Lapita, which is a former Pacific archeological culture. Ancient original styles mainly consist of some simple patterns, like straight lines, repeating on the body. These geometrical styles can be found in Hawaiian and Samoan tattoo traditions. Because the age is too far from today, the meanings of these patterns are almost lost, or at a minimum debatable. The most used styles today, which instead consist of rounded patterns, are from Marquesas Island.
Tattooing is a sacred ceremony in Polynesian culture. The tattoos and their location on the body were determined by one’s genealogy, position within the society and personal achievements. According to the culture of Maori, all high-ranking Māori were tattooed, and those who went without tattoos were seen as people with lowest social level.
Tattooing was operated by high trained shamans in the religious ceremony. The shaman was an expert in the meanings of the tattoo and skills of the art.
Before getting tattooed, a person should experience a long period of cleansing. During this period one would fast for a fixed length of time and abstain from sexual intercourse or contact with women. The tattoo practice generally marked both rites of passage and important events in a person’s