Tattoo patterns came from Polynesia. The ancient art of tattooing has passed through legends, traditions, cultures and ritual rites, making them more expressive and personal in the modern world.

The origin of tattoo art in Polynesia.

Polynesia is the old name for more than 1000 islands in the Pacific Ocean. Tattoo is a form of expression of thoughts in Polynesia, on a par with writing in the modern world. Denoted the status in the hierarchy of society. Polynesians believe in the sanctity of tattoos, and refrain from certain acts that may offend the gods while tattooing the body. In Polynesia, the symbols chosen for the tattoo and the location play an important role. Everything depended on the personality of the person being tattooed and his rank in society.

The Marquesas Islands are the first Polynesian islands discovered by the Spaniards in 1595. In 1771, Captain James Cook sailed the Polynesian Triangle and discovered the Polynesian people. Cook brought tattoos to Europe, where they became popular. According to researchers, the art of tattooing has been around for over 2,000 years.

Tribal and Polynesian tattoos.

Tribal tattoos will be Polynesian in origin. But not every Polynesian tattoo will be tribal. Polynesian tattoos carry information - genealogy, status in society, personal qualities, professional skills. From the tattoo, they learned where a person grew up, what tribe he came from, about achievements in life. Warriors and leaders wore tattoos symbolizing power, which was not allowed for non-military people.

When choosing a Polynesian tattoo style, explore all the meanings or contact an artist who specializes in this style.

The meaning of the tattoo Polynesian patterns.

• All symbols are based on 4 elements: water, earth, air and fire. If a man goes to the sea and life is connected with water, then the appropriate pattern is chosen. For a warrior in tattoo patterns, symbols of all four elements are used.
• Shell pattern - peace and fertility. Choose for women's tattoo patterns or for men whose work is related to agriculture and cultivation. Bivalve seashells - a marriage, a strong union. Used in women's and men's tattoos.
• Shark teeth - strength and courage. In Polynesian teachings, sharks are considered gods. This sign is used as a talisman. The symbol looks like a triangle. Draw a series of triangles as a symbol of a row of teeth. Sometimes several rows of triangles are used in a row in one sketch. The meaning is adaptability and courage.
• The tip of the spear is physical strength. The symbol is derived from the weapon itself and signifies the strength, courage and dominance of the person wearing it.
• Tiki is protection from bad energy. A Hawaiian tattoo style, the pattern consists of human figures depicted with their eyes closed. Tiki is applied to the body as a defense. The symbol was used in the ancient temples of Polynesia and columns.
• The sun is majesty and wealth. Sunrise is rebirth. Rays - eternity, leadership, success. On some islands of Polynesia, the sun is a symbol of the transition to another world.
• The ocean is the ultimate destination for Polynesians. The template consists of a wave on a black background. The ocean is a symbol of death, as well as fertility, a source of food and the homeland of ancestors.

The process of tattooing in Polynesia.

The modern tattooing process is reliable and safe. The needles used by the Polynesians are made from bird bone, shark teeth, bamboo, and even tortoiseshell. Before applying the ink, the skin was cut off. The ink was made from plants, coconut milk, sugarcane juice and candle wax. Rituals were used to heal wounds after tattooing.

Placement of tattoo patterns on the body according to Polynesian traditions.

The placement of the tattoo on the body affects the thoughts you are trying to convey. The body is the link between heaven and earth. The upper honor of the body is connected with the sky, the spiritual world. The lower one is the earth and the physical world. The back and legs behind are the past. Chest and legs in front - the future. The head is spirituality, wisdom and intuition. Hands - creativity, especially associated with rituals.

• The upper torso is the balance. The bottom one is independence. The upper part of the torso - from the shoulders to the navel, means generosity and honor, balance and harmony between heaven and earth. Lower - from the navel to the hips, means independence, sexuality and energy. The navel is considered a symbol of human strength.
• Shoulders and forearms - strength. Place of tattooing for warriors and leaders.

In addition to the additional meaning, the placement of the tattoo affects how it looks. Sketches of tattoo designs are large in size and require a large area of ​​skin to apply. Use your shoulders, back and hips.

Tattoo patterns in the modern world.

Today, tattoo patterns are not a pure Polynesian style. Polynesian traditions act as the basis for tattoo patterns, however, other cultures are a modern addition.

• Celtic symbols have become an addition to tattoo designs, such as the Celtic knot and cross, as symbols of the unity of spirit and body.
• Slavic patterns (Khokhloma) - complements the tattoo with patterns, as a symbol of unity with nature.
• Tribal - combining the classic style of patterns with Native American symbols.
• Greek ornaments add variety to the sketch patterns.

I add the symbolism of other cultures to the Polynesian patterns, the meaning of the tattoo will not change. But the patterns and symbols of other cultures will lose their meaning and will act as a beautiful image that complements the overall design. Slavic and Arabic ornaments, Celtic and Indian symbols will carry the original meaning only in the original design, without including them in the tattoo designs

patterns

A modern tattoo in the form of a pattern or ornament often just adorns the body and does not carry any meaning. Much more meaningful "styles" are tribal and Celtic tattoos, dating back centuries.

Tribal (Tribal) - tribal tattoos. This is a pointed, well-defined, without smooth transitions, usually a black pattern. The progenitor of the modern tribal is the bizarre patterns on the bodies of the Polynesian and Australian Indians, as well as the population of Borneo. The ancient tribes of Maori, Aztecs, Maya - that's who we owe the appearance of tribals, legendary tattoo patterns.

Aborigines - warriors and hunters - used the tribal as an amulet or confirmation of their own achievements. With the help of a tattoo, the Knower multiplied his strength. Geometric shapes, symbolic images of plants and animals, scorpions are the actual root motifs. Initially, the location of the tribal on the body had a hierarchical, religious and identification value.

For example, among the Maori warriors, a tattoo on the face was used to intimidate the enemy, their hands were covered with patterns to give absolute fearlessness. At present, the choice of a place for such a tattoo is not limited by anything other than the individual wishes of the future owner.

Today, tribal is one of the canons of classic artistic tattooing, in the catalogs of the PRO TATTOO tattoo parlor you can find great examples of such works.

Remember, making a beautiful tribal tattoo is a task for a professional tattoo artist. Competent selection and arrangement of the pattern, high-quality color filling are the main components of an excellent tattoo.

Ornametnal is a Polynesian style that not only passed to us through several generations, but also remained practically unchanged. The symbolism of the ornamental is quite majestic; earlier it was worn only by leaders and priests, showing the people their supremacy. Women were forbidden to decorate their bodies with tattoos of this style, although they were the tattoo masters of that time.

The tattoo in the ornamental style has clear, detailed lines. The style is comparable to woodcarving. Every detail keeps a hidden meaning, known only to its owner. Cunningly twisted lines, ornate connections - we are simply drowning in the mystical and inaccessible atmosphere of this style.

Patterns and geometric shapes are symmetrical and distinct, hence the overall versatility of the picture. Preferred style colors are black. It is rare to find a multi-colored sketch.

This is not just a decoration for the body, an ornament is a kind of amulet and talisman that keeps a deep meaning and protects a person from the surrounding evil.

You can place a tattoo on any part of your body - Ornamental looks aesthetically pleasing anywhere. You can fill a small tattoo on the forearm, or you can completely decorate the entire back. It's up to you, of course. But if you think about the origin of this style, the owner of the tattoo must believe in one God, agreeing with the opinion of the tribes. Patterns that are popular reflect pagan views of the world.

The very word "Ornament" comes from the Latin ornemantum - decoration. This is a pattern based on repeating elements. From ancient times to this day, the ornament is intended to decorate a variety of items - from clothing and weapons to furniture and room decor, and can also carry encoded and magical information.

Researchers believe that the ornament originated around 15-10 thousand years BC. and at first carried in itself not a decorative function, but an expression of a certain circle of life. The attitude of the ancient people was reflected in the ornament, so the elements were exclusively geometric in shape - a circle, a square, a spiral, an oval, a rhombus, a triangle. And each symbol was endowed with a specific meaning, for example, a circle is the sun, and a spiral is movement. Gradually, over time, patterns began to be considered from an artistic point of view.

According to the motifs used in the ornament, it is usually divided into

• geometric, consisting of geometric shapes.
• vegetable - flowers, leaves, berries.
• zoomorphic, depicting stylized animals.
• architectural - consisting of architectural elements.

Combinations of different motifs are often used.

The main and most popular styles in ornamental tattoo

Polynesia- ornaments of natives of the Polynesian islands - Maori, Hawaiian, Samoa, Tahiti, Tiki. They mainly consist of geometric figures, stylized images of marine life (turtles, octopuses, sharks, etc.), the sun and masks of various spirits.

Haida- totemic images of animals and deities of the Haida tribes (Indians

Haida- totem images of animals and deities of the Haida tribes (Indians of the north-western coast of North America and Canada).

Mesoamerica(Maya, Aztecs, etc.) - patterns and images of mythological creatures characteristic of the Indians of South America.

borneo - tattoo natives of the island of Borneo (Indonesia, Malaysia), for the inhabitants of Borneo, tattoos are both a talisman and a reflection of a person's life path. According to some in Borneo, the Tribal style has evolved.

Celt(Celtic) - Celtic ornament, consisting of many complex weaves, similar to braids or basket weaving.

Blackwork- not quite an ornament, but a whole direction, which is based on the technique of painting over large areas of skin only with black

Blackwork- not quite an ornament, but a whole direction, which is based on the technique of painting over large areas of skin only with black.

Dotwork- a dot technique that can be used in many tattoo styles, but still this technique has taken a worthy and very popular place in an ornamental tattoo.

line work- also a technique used in different areas of tattooing, including ornamental

line work- also a technique used in different areas of tattooing, including ornamental. The entire pattern (or drawing) is done only with lines.

Tribal- controversial style. Once upon a time, any tattoo in the form of a pattern was called a “tribal” and was often confused with Celtic, but there is a well-founded opinion that Tribal originates from Borneo ornaments.