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Polynesians, who are indigenous to the Pacific Islands, have used tattoos as a form of self-expression, cultural identification, and even as a means of protection. The designs were often passed down through generations, with each tattoo telling a unique story about the wearer's heritage, achievements, and personal journey. Polynesian tattoos are growing increasingly popular in the world of body art. While the overall aesthetic and style of these tattoos is incredibly appealing, one must remember that it is deeply sacred for Polynesians themselves. There is no harm in getting a tattoo inspired by their cultures, but the least we can do is learn about and embrace them with the utmost respect.
Awe-Inspiring Polynesian Tattoo Designs & Meanings
Alternatively, you can cover your shoulders, arms, and your pecs—on one side or both. On the left, a tattoo carries a feminine symbolism, while the right is more masculine. It can be either soft and round or a type of spiral with hard corners. Legs and feet represent moving forward, transformation and progress.
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The healing process
The pe’a is placed on a person’s midriff, from their waist down to their knees. Its design involves plenty of lines winding around the person’s body. The niho mano, also known as shark teeth, is another popular traditional Polynesian tattoo design. At least fifty percent of tattoos in Polynesia have images of shark teeth in them. Generally, among the wide array of unique cultures within the spectrum of Polynesian tattoos there are a few commonalities in the designs.
Shark teeth (simplified)
An ocean design with a curved circle is significant because it represents the second home of Polynesian people. When the ocean motif is part of a tattoo, it represents life, change, and progress through change. Only the most essential members often made these in their society, e.g., priests who had been taught to perform the procedures. Thus, for these people, tattoos did not just have social but also religious and cultural significance. Tongan warriors are often tattooed from the waist down to the knees in geometric patterns of repeated motifs, bands, and sections of solid black. Women would have similar designs, but with more delicate floral patterns on their hands and lower parts.
Polynesian tattoos can have varying meanings depending on the design. Polynesian people show that they were able to endure pain by getting their skin marked and were through rites of passage to become accepted members of their society. Therefore, tattoos were part of a person’s identity as visible signs of rank and ancestral blood. Around 200 CE (1800 years ago), Polynesian people sailed to the Marquesas, developing their own Polynesian tattoo designs. Compared to Samoa and Tonga, their tattoos covered their whole body and were much more elaborate. For example, in a hierarchical society, tattoos represented certain social ranks or may have been reserved sloley for the leaders of a tribe.
The feet, being our contact with Papa, Mother Nature, are also related to concreteness and material matters. All of these tribes are genetically linked to the indigenous peoples from parts of Southeast Asia. There is still debate over the definitive origins of Polynesian culture and that transfers also, to the notion of tattooing. In this case, tiki’s eye, nostrils, and ears appear to be prominent elements. Demigod is opposite to atua, who often appeared to the humans in non-human form, like a lizard. Traditionally, tiki always has closed eyes, and nostrils are always shown.
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Ideal Placement of Polynesian Tattoos
Sometimes shark teeth are used to symbolize an ‘aumakua, which is a supernatural entity such as an ancestor. It is believed that these tattoos often help ancestors or spirits protect and guide the individual. Shark teeth tattoos are sometimes considered sacred among the Polynesian people.
If the design is placed upside down, it sometimes represents enemies that have been defeated. A tiki tattoo usually represents ancestors, chiefs, and priests that have transitioned to a semi-god status after dying. There are even people who are not of Polynesian descent that enjoy these incredible tattoos today.
Meaning
Ancient Marquesans used an interesting tool for tattooing, or, should I say, tools. The pigment used was traditionally from the ama nut, which was cooked over a fire and the soot was then captured onto stones and dried on banana leaves. For this reason, the mere act of receiving a tattoo was seen as a great act of bravery and the sign of a powerful person.
Polynesian people have a long history of creating Polynesian tattoos, which are distinctive to their culture and unique history. In traditional Polynesian tattoos, there usually are no flowers. However, if you’re looking to add some color, you can mix different styles.
For instance, women would get tattoos on their hands so they can perform the Kava ritual at ceremonies. Meanwhile, men tend to go for something simple, such as a design of a snake going around the arm. Polynesian tattoos have a ton of history behind them, and their legacy goes back 2000 years.
For some, it may be hard to tell the difference between the various Polynesian cultures and their tattoo art; in a way, they are very similar. “Polynesian tattoo” is a general term that refers to all tattoo traditions of the Polynesian people. Polynesians include Hawaiians, Tongans, Tahitians, Samoans, Māori, and several other groups of people. Many patterns were believed to preserve one’s life energy, or mana, which helped protect health, fertility, and overall wellbeing. Tattoos have been an essential element to Polynesian culture for many centuries. The term “Polynesian tattoo” encompasses a wide variety of tattoo styles that originate from many different Pacific Islands, such as Hawaii, Samoa, and New Zealand.
This is quite simple in designs as they incorporate triangles that are not even interconnected as shown above. When you visit The Islands of Tahiti, we invite you to immerse yourself in our unique culture and landscape and feel your senses come alive, a feeling that will stay with you... StyleCraze's articles are interwoven with authentic personal narratives that provide depth and resonance to our content. Below are the sources of the personal accounts referenced in this article.
Face tattoos are culturally popular and include many swirling and arching thin lines that flow over the curves of the cheekbones, nose, chin and forehead. For men, the entire face is usually consumed by the tattoos while women frequently were only tattooed around the lips and chin. Maori men often receive full-body or waist to thigh tattoos as a symbol of their incredible pain tolerance. Joints, usually, represent a union, as it joins two parts of the body.
