Maori Tribal Tattoo Designs

Maori tattoo designs are always in abstract form. What is interesting is that ancient Maori tattoo designers came up with this distinct artwork through their interpretation of nature. For Maoris, nature can be observed in rhythmic and cyclic patterns. These abstract patterns were interpreted as kowhaiwhai or Maori scroll patterns. These were then used in Maori carving, called Whakairo, and tattooing, called Ta Moko.

Ta moko's literal translation is "to strike" or "to tap." It is in, modern day context, the tattooing process. The word moko pertains to the tattoo design itself. An ancient tattoo for Maori men is made up of heavy spiral designs that cover the face, buttocks and legs. On the other hand, a tattoo for ancient Maori women was usually inked on the lips and chin, sometimes even on the neck and the back.

Maori tribe tattooing used to be done by striking bone chisels onto the skin. It was time-consuming and very, very painful. This made the practice of tattooing a sacred ritual. Tattooing was even accompanied with music, chanting, and fasting. Tohunga ta moko, Maori tattoo specialists, were usually men.

An ancient Maori tattoo chisel, called uhi, was made from the bone of an albatross. The tattoo ink used was of two kinds - one was made from vegetable and a caterpillar, the other from burned wood.

Maori tattooing began as early as adolescence, and was used to celebrate important events throughout life. A Maori tribesman or tribeswoman's first tattoo commemorates the passage from childhood to adulthood and was done during a series of rites and rituals. Tattoo art was so important for the Maoris that one were considered worthless if you didn't have any on your skin.

Maori legend chronicles how ta moko sprung from the underworld. It tells of how a young Maori warrior by the name of Mataora fell in love the princess of the underworld, Niraweka. They married and lived aboveground. But when quarrels arose and Mataora began maltreating his wife, she left to come back to her father's kingdom. Showing deep remorse by smudging his face with paint, Mataora followed her and tried to win her back. He eventually succeeded. As a prize, Niraweka's father taught him the art of tattooing.

A tattoo was essentially a clan marking for the Maori tribe. They identified who belonged to the tribe and who did not. It was a social status, an exclusive symbol for belongingness. That hasn't changed in the 21st century. Maoris, in general, find it a grave insult for a non-tribesman to wear their tattoo design. It is like copying and stealing a part of their identity.

So if you want a Maori tattoo design, you better find a tattoo artist who can work around these issues. Have him come up with a tattoo design that has the marking of a moko but does not have Maori symbolic ties.