Maori Tattoos

The history of Maori Tattoos comes all the way to us from New Zealand and was introduced in 1769. In the Maori culture, it was a symbol of strength and high ranking to display various tattoos. The most common location for them was on the head. A full facial tattoo was very common. This took a great deal of time to complete. The individual had to consume only liquids to allow the facial area to completely heal.

Maori tattoos are very different compared to how most of us view tattoos today. These types of tattoos were embedded deeply into the facial structure of the individual, and not punctured like tattoos are done today. The particular tattoo on an individual said a great deal about his power, beliefs, family, and his achievements.

Traditional Maori Tattoos

Traditional Maori Tattoos (aka Ta Moko) were also used to signify the onset of puberty. Women of the Ta Moko tribe were attracted to warriors who featured various tattoos. Traditional Maori tattoos also signified the various rites of passage, bravery, and special events that took place in a young man's life.

Mokos identified the rank of males in the tribe. It also refers to their fertility. The authority a tribe member had could be told by their Moko. This was generally found on the chin area. The sides of the face often indicated the ancestry of the tribe member. Maori persons without tattoos were seen as from a lower social status.

The traditional Maori tattoo was applied with a special chisel called a uhi.

Maori Tattoo Designs

While the main locations of Maori tattoos were on the face and head, they were not limited to these places. Another common place for Maori tattoos are the buttocks and the thighs. The designs for this location were mainly double spirals. They could be located only there or they could extend down the back of the legs to the knees.

The place for a woman's tattoos were usually the chin and the lips.

Maori tattoos consist of detailed designs that include lines, symbols, and distinct marks. To the average person, they don't mean much, but to the people of the Maori culture, the facial tattoo is a very important part of who they are. Therefore, those who complete them need to have the right skills.

A couple of years ago there was a controversy when Robin Williams had a Maori tattoo done on his arm. Pita Sharples, a Maori cultural authority claimed the designs was the intellectual property of his tribe. Genealogy is very important to the Maori people and their tattoos are the tale of their family history, so copying their designs is seen as an insult. Keep this in mind when you're thinking about getting a Maori tattoo design, copying a Maori's design is a kind of identity theft.

Maori Tattoo Art

The experts who crafted tattoos in the Maori community were very highly respected in the tribe. They took the time to create unique designs for the individual. The bone structure of a person was carefully studied before the art was started.

The process of creating Maori tattoos was quite painful. A bone chisel (from an albatross) with a very sharp edge was used to cut deeply into the skin. The chisel was dipped into various types of vegetable pigments and then placed into the skin. The warriors had to endure a very painful healing process. In modern times tattoo guns gradually replaced the bone chisel because it is faster and less likely to cause health problems. The last couple of years though, there is a revival of the use of the uhi.

The pigments were made from a certain kind of caterpillar and burnt timbers.

In 1907 it became illegal to have mokos, but today we see a revival. Young people are interested in their culture and tattoos again. Maori tattoos still hold significant meaning relating to the rank, beliefs, heritage, and accomplishments of those in the Maori tribes.