Maori tattoo: zoom on its origins and its meaning

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The tattoo maori, or Maori, is part of the family of tribal tattoos. It takes its name from the Polynesian tribe maori, one of the indigenous peoples living in Polynesia, New Zealand.

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The Maori tattoo: zoom on its origin, its meaning plus some ideas in drawings

There is still a debate about the definitive origins of Polynesian culture and the notion of tattooing. One thing is certain, the term “Polynesian” incorporates many tribes: Marques, Samoans, Niuens, Tongans, Cook Islanders, Hawaiians, Tahitians and Maori. All these tribes are genetically related to indigenous peoples in parts of Southeast Asia.

Southeast Asia and, in turn, Polynesia is a sub-region of Oceania, consisting of a large group of more than 1000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean, in a triangle that encompasses the New Zealand, the island of Hawaii and Easter Island.

The people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are called Polynesians and they share many of similar traits, including language, culture and beliefs.

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Maori tattoo: a legacy from afar

However, Polynesian languages ​​may vary slightly from each other and in some cases they differ significantly. There are words that are basically the same in all Polynesian languages, reflecting the deepest core of all Polynesian cultures. Moana (ocean) and mana (spiritual strength and energy) are two terms that transcend all Polynesian cultures.

These words are quite similar and reflect the proximity of Polynesian cultures to the ocean, as they believe that the ocean represents life.

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The origins of tattoo art in Polynesia

Historically, the Polynesian culture had no writing. The art of tattooing was therefore used by Polynesians to express their identity and their personality. Tattoos indicated social status, as well as sexual maturity and genealogy. Almost everyone in ancient Polynesian society was tattooed.

Captain James Cook was the first navigator to try to explore the Polynesian triangle. In 1771, when James Cook returned to Tahiti and New Zealand. He was the first to introduce “tattooing” in Europe. In his stories, James Cook describes the behavior of the Polynesian people on his journey, which he calls tattaw. He also brought a Tahitian named Ma’i to Europe. Thanks to Ma’i, the first tattoos were born in Europe.

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A story of sailors?

Another legend says that European sailors liked Polynesian tattoos a lot and started getting tattooed themselves. It is thanks to them that this art spread very vote in Europe.

The current Polynesian tattoo tradition existed more than 2000 years ago, but in the 18th century the Old Testament strictly prohibited the operation. Since its rebirth in the 1980s, many lost arts have been revived, but it became very difficult to sterilize the wood and bone tools used for the tattooing process, so the Ministry of Health banned tattooing in French Polynesia in 1986.

Several researchers, visual artists and tattoo artists mention the revival of tattoo art and practice in Tonga.

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Maori tattoo: Tonga and Samoa

It is in Tonga and Samoa that the Polynesian tattoo developed in a very refined art. The Tongan warriors were tattooed at the knees with a series of geometric patterns, consisting mainly of triangular patterns, bands and also solid cores. For the Tongan people, tattooing had a profound social and cultural significance.

In ancient Samoa, tattooing also played an extremely important role in spiritual rituals and warfare. The tattoo artist held a heredity and by the same vein, a very privileged position. He usually tattoos groups of six to eight people (usually men) at a ceremony attended by friends and relatives. The tattoo of the Samoan warrior began at the waist and extended just below the knee.

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Among the Polynesian peoples, the tattoo artist had a very high status.

However, it was not unusual for Samoan women to also have tattoos. But the images were limited to elements such as a series of delicate floral patterns (usually geometric) on the hands and lower parts of the body.

About 200 travelers from Samoa and Tonga settled in the Marquesas region. For a period of more than 1000 years, one of the most complex Polynesian cultures evolved – Marquesan.

Marquis art and architecture were highly developed and the designs of marquise tattoos, which often covered the whole body, were the most elaborate in Polynesia.

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The location of the tattoo is very important in the Polynesian tattoo.

The location of the tattoo on the body played a very important role in the Polynesian tattoo. They generally associated the left with women and the right with men. Here is a simplified chart of what each part of the body represented in Polynesian tattooing:

The head represents wisdom, spirituality, knowledge and intuition.

The upper trunk – generosity, sincerity, honor and reconciliation.

And the lower trunk – energy, courage, procreation, independence and sexuality of life

The shoulders and the arms – strength and bravery and they involve people like warriors and leaders.

And the arms and the hands – creativity and creation

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What are the main designs and patterns of Maori (Polynesian) tattoos?

The designs (in the picture below from left to right)

Hei tiki – happiness, luck, fertility

Koru – new beginning, harmony, growth

Hei matau – prosperity, determination, strength, good health

Manaia – protective spiritual angel

Torsion simple – way of life, eternity

Double torsion – eternity, friendship, loyalty

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And the reasons:

Hikuaua – prosperity, success

Pakati – strength, courage, bravery

Unaunahi – fish scale representing abundance and health

Taratarekae – translated “whale teeth”

Ahu ahu mataroa – physical ability, athletics, new challenge

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Maori tattoo idea with Pakati motifView in gallery

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The Hei Tiki hippie renditionView in galleryMaori tattoo: zoom on its origins and its significance | 15/24 Symbol of the familyView in galleryMaori tattoo: zoom on its origins and its significance | 16/24 View in galleryMaori tattoo: zoom on its origins and its significance | 17/24 View in galleryMaori tattoo: zoom on its origins and its significance | 18/24 View in galleryMaori tattoo: zoom on its origins and its significance | 19/24 View in galleryMaori tattoo: zoom on its origins and its significance | 20/24

Twist double modern interpretation and design View in galleryMaori tattoo: zoom on its origins and its significance | 21/24 View in galleryMaori tattoo: zoom on its origins and its significance | 22/24 View in galleryMaori tattoo: zoom on its origins and its significance | 23/24View in galleryMaori tattoo: zoom on its origins and its significance | 24/24

And to know even more about the Maori tattoo, visit this site.