These traditional facial tattoos involve the use of curved shapes and spiraling patterns. Since the head is believed to be the most sacred part of the body by the Maori, ta moko was most often done on the face. The traditional Maori tattoo practice is known as ta moko.
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The process of a person receiving a tattoo involved a series of rituals – particularly prior to the arrival and interference of Europeans. Tattooing is an integral part of the Maori culture. Still, the Maori and their culture have survived the many changes, and today there around 730,000 Maori people in New Zealand, and over 150,000 elsewhere in the world, primarily in Australia. This resulted in a dramatic fall in the Maori population. Initially the two cultures co-existed peacefully, and the Maori adopted many elements of Western society.Īs is usually the way, though, conflict happened eventually, mostly over land ownership disputes – leading to land confiscations, social upheaval, and a number of epidemics. The Maori’s life in New Zealand changed with the arrival of Europeans in the 17 th century.
This means that the mythology, language, practices, and art is distinctly different from those of other Polynesian peoples. The Maori originated from eastern Polynesia and arrived in New Zealand in the first half of the 14 th century, sometime between 13.īecause the Maori have spent their first few centuries in New Zealand in isolation from other Polynesian tribes, their culture has developed independently. The area is often referred to as the Polynesian Triangle – marked on a map by connecting Hawaii, Easter Island, and New Zealand.
Polynesia, meanwhile, is the collection of over a thousand islands spread over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The Maori people are the indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand. In this article, we’re going to take a closer look at Maori tattoos – everything from the significance of body markings for the Maori people to the designs inspired by Maori tattoo art.
The complex patterns and meanings behind Maori tattoos have been a source of inspiration for tattoo artists the world over. Like most of the indigenous people of Oceania, the Maori consider tattoos to be an important part of their cultural identity and practice.
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