Maori Tattoo Design Mistakes Made By The Beginner
Common Maori Tattoo Mistakes
From Eastern Polynesia to New Zealand.
Tattooing came from Eastern Polynesian culture to New Zealand according to archaeological evidence.
In archaeological sites in New Zealand and Eastern Polynesia, the bone chisels used for tattooing can be found. Although the Maori practiced tattooing, there is no evidence that the Moriori people did.
In New Zealand, It is in the early sites that the widest chisel blades are found, and this lends evidence to the theory that there was possibly a preference towards rectilinear tattoo patterns in earlier times.
The head was considered the most sacred part of the body, and because tattooing caused blood to run the tattoo craftsmen, or “tohunga-ta-oko”, were very tapu persons. Persons who were not tattooed are considered unimportant people, while all Maori of high ranks were tattooed.
Tattooing commenced at puberty, accompanied by many rites and rituals. In addition to making a warrior attractive to women, the tattoo practice marked both rites of passage and important events in a person’s life.
There were certain prohibitions during the tattooing process; and for the facial tattoo in particular sexual intimacy and the eating of solid foods were prohibited. To ensure that no contaminating product will come into contact with the swollen skin, water and the liquid food will be drained into a wooden funnel. There is just no choice; until the wounds heal, this is the sole solution if a tattooed person would want to eat.
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A careful study of a person’s bone structure is done by good tattoo craftsmen, it also must be known that a full faced tattoo was very time consuming.
Often, leaves from the native Karaka tree were to be placed over the inflamed tattoo cuts to fasten the healing process, because this is extremely long and painful. Wars were frequent, and the warriors had little time for recuperation. To help soothe the pain, flute music and chant poems were performed during the tattooing process.
Tattoos of swirling double spirals on both buttocks are what warriors from the North Auckland have, even though tattoos were mainly facial.
Unlike the men, women are not as comprehensively tattooed. Usually, their lips were outlined dark blue. Very finely carved nostrils are also noticeable. Chin moko, this is the most popular Maori woman tattoo that is practiced even into 1970s.
The Maori see maori tattoo designs that are not done right as weakening their spirituality, their culture, and see the west as thieves for not having their own originality when getting maori tattoo designs.
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