One of the most recurrent questions we get from new friends approaching Polynesian tattoos for the first time is "What do Polynesian tattoos represent?" We deal with several different traditions and styles across Polynesia, so there isn't one single purpose.
However, there are some recurrent reasons shared by most traditions, some common to cultures all over the world, and some more specifically Polynesian, which we will detail below.
Marking an Accomplishment
Perhaps the most common reason for a tattoo, still prominent nowadays, is to mark an accomplishment or a specific moment in the life of an individual.
- In ancient times, this could mean reaching puberty or adulthood, achieving a feat like killing a foe, or having fulfilled a specific training.
- Female hand tattoos were often used to allow trained women to serve specific foods that were considered tapu (sacred).
- The Samoan male pe'a marked the moment a young man was ready to be an active part of the community and to take a leading role in his family.
- The Maori moko kawae (the tattoo on the lips and chin of a woman) represents her family and the service she has given, reflecting her authority to speak for the family.
Embellishment and Fertility
Another goal of Polynesian tattoos was to make the bearer more appealing, and to promote fertility.
This aspect was very prominent in Samoan tattoos (whose style often reflects their prosperity) and in Maori tattoos (moko), where both male and female tattoos had a strong sexual connotation, making the bearer more desirable.
Polynesian Tattoos as a Protective Device
Protection is one of the main purposes for Polynesian tattoos, particularly evident in the following traditional styles:
The Pe'a (Samoa)
The term pe'a translates as "flying fox." The traditional male tattoo covers the body from above the hips down to just below the knees, resembling a flying fox hanging from a tree:
The flying fox is a social animal that protects its young by surrounding them with its wings. The pe'a tattoo similarly wraps the body from waist to knees, offering comprehensive protection.
The Malu (Samoa)
The term malu translates as "shield." It refers to the traditional female tattoo covering the thighs to just below the knees. The specific malu element, which always appears behind the knee, represents the four walls of the house and has the double meaning of protection and place of family unity:
Patutiki (Marquesas)
The term patutiki translates as "drawn figures." This defines the traditional Marquesan full-body tattoo. It's a very bold style with consistent solid black parts, aimed at protecting and empowering by striking fear into enemies and collecting mana (life force).
Hawaiian Kakau
Traditional Hawaiian tattoos, as seen on first contact, incorporated checkered patterns on the chest (pecs) and often the left side. This design was meant to recall the woven shields carried by warriors on their left hand, offering spiritual defense.
Family Union, Ancestry, and Mana
Perhaps the most unique reason for getting a tattoo in Polynesian cultures is deeply rooted in the concept of mana, which translates as "life force, authority."
Mana can be inherited by birth and increased by following a proper conduct aimed at the prosperity of the whole community. The community is always held above the individual. This collectivist approach was essential for colonizing the Pacific, a feat that took whole clans and generations to achieve.
In a society without a written alphabet, tattoos are an important part of the graphic arts used to pass on the body of lore to new generations. The tattoo portrays family history using specific symbols that connect one generation to the next. This tradition gives each individual a place and a role within the community.
This is why we so often see ancestors represented in Polynesian tattoos. It helps passing their mana on to their descendants, keeping their memory alive, and bridging past, present and future together.
Polynesian tattoos are never just nice designs. They have stories, meanings, and purpose, which empower their bearers.
