By Sulu'ape Angela
The word “tattoo” is a derivative of the ancient Polynesian word “tatau”. After hearing the native Samoans use “tatau” to describe the markings in the skin, the sailors from that era had a hard time pronouncing it, so it became “tattoo”. Translated into English it was originally believed to have meant “to tap” since the Polynesian tattoo was tapped into the skin. Yet, having spent time in the South Pacific, I became aware that “tatau” actually translates to the phrase “What one must do”.
Marking of the skin, called “tattooing” has been around since the beginning of man. It may have been Ugh the Cave man falling into the fire, and poking himself with a charred stick or ember leaving a permanent pigmentation change on the area where his skin was punctured, probably realizing he could mark himself like an animal, camouflage himself, or make himself more attractive
with such markings.
Tattooing has been traditionally used for identification in regards to tribal affiliation, sexual maturity, life experience, knowledge, wisdom, strength, endurance, rank, rites of passage, and beautification. In some cultures, tattoos were used to differentiate between kings, free men and women, servants or slaves with permanent marks telling individual status in ancient societies. History has observed the more elaborate and beautiful the markings, the more expensive in trade, the higher the social status.
The oldest known tattooing implements were found in the coastal regions of Africa in a cave-dwelling and carbon dated to be over 20,000 years old. As far as we know, the oldest practice of tattooing is found in the Samoan Islands in the Samoan culture that came with them when they traveled to and settled the Islands of Samoa. Some designs were added when they landed on the Islands, creating traditional tattoos that they still wear today. These tattoos are known for men as the Pe'a, and the Malu for women. It is a pure art form that has never stopped, and has remained unchanged for over 5,000 years.
The tribes of the Americas, from Alaskans to the Incas, Aztecs, Mayan and Brazilians had many different tattooing histories. In Japan, they have an ongoing tattooing practice that has continued for hundreds of years. The Pictish people of Great Britain, the ancient Egyptians, Celts, middle easterners, and even the Jewish all have an ancient tattooing history. There, too are many Polynesian and Micronesian cultures, with many histories including the Mauri of New Zealand, Tahitian, Marquesian, Hawaiian, Borneo, Yap, Philippine and Ponape, etc. Every culture and every people at one point in their histories have tattooed. But in many cultures they were forced to stop their art and have only recently, within the last 20 years, started to revive their tattooing culture once again.
As for modern tattooing, it has a 250 year history. At first tattooing was only for the rich and powerful, for only the rich could afford the travel to the South Pacific to be tattooed. But when sailors started their own form of tattooing and created the tattoo machine, sometime in the late 1800's, the elite did not want to be associated with what they considered lower class. Tattooing became associated with being for sailors, bikers, loose women, or
circus side-show “freaks”.
But tattooing has made a revival. In the last 20 years more and more people have started wanting to be tattooed. At first they kept their tattoos hidden, held in secret and to themselves. But over time as it has become more accepted, and publications, magazines, tattoo shows, and tattoo conventions have started, people began to feel less intimidated to show their body art. There are even television programs that center around the tattoo work place and the stories of their clients. Every day, and everywhere you look you can see doctors, lawyers, actors and actresses, rock stars, and students, even grandmothers, people from all walks of life with tattoos and who show their tattoos with pride.
Tattoos have once again become a badge of honor.
Modern tattooing is only limited by the skill of the artist, and ones imagination. The tattoo work you can see today has become more and more elaborate, detailed, and beautiful works of art. To some folk, the bigger, the better and obviously that would make tattoos more expensive.
With tattooing there is pain, but not so horrible as to not have it done. If it did not hurt, everyone would have one! Tattooing is not for everyone, yet it is a desire for the strong or for someone who wants to touch within themselves, something their ancestors also did, or someone who wants to mark a time in their lives.
Tattooing is a unique art form. It no longer denotes rank, and a quality tattoo studio is one of the last places that you CAN go and get what you pay for. For more info contact us at info@tat2inc.com