As the art of tattooing is a very spiritual process for everyone involved, the tattoo master had the right to restrict the person receiving the tattoo. Tattoo masters traveled to different islands and were provided with housing by the local people. The position was so demanding that they rarely had families. Regarded as spiritual leaders, these individuals had many responsibilities, from mastering the art of Polynesian tattooing to extensive travel within islands to perform their rites. The tattoo master was a highly-regarded position within the ancient Polynesian culture. It was widely practiced in French Polynesia and reached its developmental peak in the Marquesas Islands, where tattoos are known for vibrant, intricate designs and themes.

The origins of tattooing likely extend back to the Māori civilization, and it seems to have flourished in the “Polynesian Triangle,” which includes the regions of New Zealand, Hawaii, Samoa, Easter Island, and the Cook Islands. They not only talked about the person’s rank in their culture but also their personality, work and many other personal details such as family ties and unique passions. Since Polynesia did not have written communication for a significant part of their early Polynesian history, the tattoo also acted as its own type of communication medium. While better travel options have made this a less tell-tale sign these days as natives move about from island to island, you can still see these touches from the tattoo artists themselves. Each of the islands of The Islands of Tahiti had designs that were unique to that area, so you have an easy visual cue to figure out someone’s origins. Polynesian Tattoo Designs for Every IslandĪ few centuries ago, one of the easiest ways to figure out where a Polynesian person came from was to look at their tattoos. Discovering how these tattoos evolved from ancient history to today’s world is a fascinating journey through cultural traditions and spiritual beliefs. The work is often intricate and deeply meaningful, and it has successfully made the leap into the modern era, where you can see this artwork today across The Islands of Tahiti. Each Polynesian culture has its own take on tattoos, from the varied motifs to the tools and techniques. Tattooing has a long history in the Oceania region, with some of the earliest examples of Polynesian tattoo art showing up more than 2,000 years ago.

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