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Tā moko is the permanent marking or "tattoo" as traditionally practised by Māori, the indigenous people of New Zealand. It is one of the five main Polynesian tattoo styles (the other four are Marquesan, Samoan, Tahitian and Hawaiian). [1] Tohunga-tā-moko (tattooists) were considered tapu, or inviolable and sacred. [2]
Peʻa, Samoan male tattoo. The Peʻa is the popular name of the traditional male tatau (tattoo) of Samoa, also known as the malofie. [1] It is a common mistake for people to refer to the pe'a as sogaimiti, because sogaimiti refers to the man with the pe'a and not the pe'a itself. It covers the body from the middle of the back to the knees, and ...
The Marquesas have a long history of complex geometric tattooing, covering the whole bodies of both men and women. [5] [6] Marquesan tattoos can be recognized by 'trademark symbols', such as geckos, centipedes, Ti'i's, the Marquesan Cross (which is also commonly confused with other designs) and other geometric designs. Marquesan designs ...
Malu. Malu is a word in the Samoan language for a female-specific tattoo of cultural significance. [1] The malu covers the legs from just below the knee to the upper thighs just below the buttocks, and is typically finer and delicate in design compared to the Pe'a, the equivalent tattoo for males. The malu takes its name from a particular motif ...
Moko facial tattoos were traditional in Māori culture until about the mid-19th century, when their use began to disappear. There has been something of a revival from the late 20th century. In pre-European Māori culture, they denoted high social status. Generally only men had full facial moko. High-ranked women often had moko on their lips and ...
Mangotoeb, tattoo artists, are also keepers of the knowledge of tattoo meanings. They are predominantly female or (historically) feminized men. Some male practitioners exist but are restricted to tattooing other men, as touching the body of a woman who is not a relative or their spouse is regarded as socially inappropriate in Manobo culture.
Polynesian tattooing. Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tattoos in Polynesia.
The tattoos could represent pride in being a woman, beauty, and protection. [4] They were associated with rites of passage for women and could indicate marital status. The motifs and shapes varied from island to island. Among some peoples it was believed that women who lacked hajichi would risk suffering in the afterlife. [5]