Cultural Significance of Tattoos Around the World

Cultural Significance of Tattoos Around the World

Before tattoos were seen as taboo in earlier centuries, there were many communities that used tattoos as more than a form of self expression. They were seen as rites of passages, discovering your identity, elevating your social status or showing it off and many more. Due to colonisation a lot of these practices were either outlawed or the people that were participating were forced to reevaluate their way of life and were forced to stop. Thankfully, these practices were never truly lost and a lot of people still get tattoos that have deep cultural significance to them. It is important to note that while a lot of these tattoos are beautiful and look really cool, they have deep cultural connections and it can be seen as cultural appropriation if you decide to get them. It’s best to do as much research as possible to figure out if there are certain tattoos that you avoid getting.

 

One of the most famous cultural tattoos seen in today’s society are the Maori facial tattoos. These are rooted in the rich New Zealand and Polyniesian cultures that are still celebrated and practised in today’s society. In Maroi culture, the head is the most sacred part of the body. While in western cultures, tattoos were seen as acts of rebellion, in Maori way of life, it was considered rebellious to not get tattooed. Men receive moko kanohi on their entire face or just the lower half while women receive moko kauae on their chin and lip area. If a woman's lips are tattooed these days it is an indicator that she speaks the Maori language fluently. Men traditionally got their tattoos as a way to frighten other warriors and appear more desirable to the women in the area. In 1907, the Tohunga Suppression Act was enacted which banned the traditional ways of life that Maroi people lived in New Zealand, anything with supernatural ties was banned and had to be replaced with ‘traditional’ ways of life. It was a tool to try and speed up assimilation.  This act was repealed by the Maori Welfare Act in 1962, meaning the practice of Tāmoko and the other ways of Maori life was allowed back into their communities. The modern word of tattoo actually comes from the Maori word ‘tattau’ which translates to ‘strike’ or ‘tap’.

 

 

Similar to the Tāmoko of the Maroi people, Innuit people also had facial tattoos that were done in order to show social status and coming of age. They are called Tunniit and are practised by Inuit women mostly, as it was more traditionally something that women would do in their communities. Men can receive the tattoos as well but it was more a women's practice and a coming of age ritual. These tattoos had deep spiritual and cultural connections, all of the designs and meaning behind them traced back to the rich culture of Innuit tribes. When a woman's skills became good enough to fill a role in her tribe, she would receive her first piece of Tunniit, a design on the chin. These typically were done when she had her first menstruation but if certain circumstances occurred, a girl could have to grow up faster and receive it before. In other cases, if there was no need for a girl to take on any spiritual responsibility, she was allowed to not receive her Tunniit until later in life. The shapes and designs are decided by which Innuit group the individual belongs to. Their other tattoos, such as forehead, cheek, chest and arms are done for many different reasons. Every piece tells a story that is special to the wearer, some get it done to help with their grieving process and allow for the deceased person to move onto the afterlife. Tunniit was banned in the 1700s when missionaries arrived in places such as North America, Canada and even Greenland, banning the process as an attempt to control the Innuit tribes and turn them to Christianity. It’s unclear when it was unbanned but today Innuit people are bringing the practice back to life and allowing themselves to connect with the rich culture of their ancestors.

 

 

Indian cultural tattoos are believed to date back to the prehistoric times, rock art found in central Indian depicts figures covered in body art. Indian people get tattoos done for a number of different reasons spanning from enhancing beauty, being identified after death in battle, to preventing other tribes from stealing their women, marital status and spiritual reasons. These tattoos drew inspiration from the world around them, using geometric patterns, trees, animals and the sun.  They are known by a few names, depending on the area that you are in but commonly referred to as ‘Godna’ or ‘Pachakuthar’. Facial tattoos for women are referred to as ‘makkos’ which are the forehead and chin tattoos used to enhance their beauty. In some cases facial tattoos on women were done in blue ink so that they would be viewed as unattractive to other tribes and prevent being stolen away. Men’s facial tattoos were done to scare other tribes while engaging in battle and so if they died they would be able to be identified by their tattoos. It’s not all about the survival of the tribes and beauty standard though, Indian tattoos were also done to show off important events in the individuals lives. The women of the Santhal tribe would get their hands and feet tattooed with geometric patterns to signify their passage into womanhood similar to the tunnitt of Innuit women. In western culture symbols originating from Hinduism practices have become popular to tattoo. Imagery such as the Ohm, lotus flowers and Sanskrit verses are popular tattoo ideas. It is highly encouraged that you do research into the symbols before you get them tattooed. As much as people who practise Hinduism are fine with people getting their faith tattooed on them, symbols such as the Ohm must be tattooed in an area that can be seen without difficulty. Otherwise it loses its sacred meaning. So best to do your research before you commit to any tattoo like that.

 

 

In Buddhist cultures they have a form of tattooing called Sak Yant, which translates to ‘sacred tattoo’ or ‘blessed tattoos’. These are a form of spell that was practised in Buddhist cultures around the world. It was a way to place the spell into the skin, meaning that the receiver would be able to have their wishes and desires fulfilled with the help of the spell embedded into their skin. They are all unique to the individual as a Sak Yant master is the only one who can give you a real Sak Yant tattoo as even the smallest change in the design can change the meaning. If you go to a regular tattoo artist with a design you pulled off the internet, you are just getting a normal tattoo and not a Sak Yant tattoo. Some of the common themes in the designs are animals (which hold different meanings), deity figures and even Pali script. With all the combinations even tattoos with all the same elements can mean completely different things. Anyone is welcome to receive these tattoos but it is best to travel to places like Thailand or Bangkok where Buddist temples are and have Sak Yant masters inside the temples that are able to do this art form. Some tattoo shops in these places are also qualified to do this type of tattoos, so do some research if you don’t want to use the communal ink bucket that is used in traditional Sak Yant tattoos.

 

 

Japan had a very different approach to tattoos compared to the ones already spoken about. While some tribes in Japan did get tattoos that ward off evil and signify their womanhood (the Ainu people) their tattoos are commonly linked to the Yakuza. This was because in the Edo period, criminals were marked for their crimes with a number of different patterns to signify which crime they had committed and it became public knowledge. Head tattoos were reserved for murderers while a thief would get something done on their arm, as it was not a crime as extreme but still needed to be visible. Irezumi kei was a more tame punishment compared to the removal of limbs that came before it. The first time they had committed the crime, a single stroke of 大 would be tattooed onto their forehead, and so on and so on. After 3 times, it would be complete and if it was to be committed again, the criminal would be sentenced to death. Each region in Japan had its own symbol and placement to symbolise the crime making it very easy for others to recognise what the person had done and the severity of their crime. Such dogs in Hiroshima, lines in Chikuzen, dots in Takayama and crosses in Hizen. This was eventually abolished but the practice of tattoos were still done by the Yakuza, the large full body pieces they would have done to represent what family of the Yazkua they belonged to. Yakuza tattoos are often rooted in Shinto mythology and the rich history of their past members. Nearly all of the pieces are inspired by ancient woodcuttings which were often created by tattoo artists and would tattoo onto a Yakuza member's body shortly after. Which would be done in a similar fashion to how a wood carving is done. Ouch. But the more pain you went through was considered a high accomplishment, it showed how committed to your family you were, hence why the tattoos are often full body pieces. However with the Yazkua tattoos being so famous, it is a common misconception that tattoos are illegal in Japan, they’re not. Tattoos were legal in 1872 after the law was abolished. However, in modern times there are certain places, such as bathhouses and beaches, were people who have tattoos aren’t allowed to visit.

 

 

These are only a few types of the many different cultural tattoos that have been found around the world. China, Native American tribes, Samona and Africa have deep connections with tattoos that all mean different things and have rich histories behind them. It is an amazing thing to see these cultural tattoos in the world today as people connect with their histories. Once again, if you do find any of these tattoos interesting and want them, do some research to find out if you should get in a form of cultural appreciation and not appropriation.

 

~ Eliza Catford

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