Mana was believed to have had an influence on all the achievements and abilities of humans, but it embodied living bodies differentially – some individuals possessed more than others.
Properly apprenticed craftsmen like tattoo artists not only worked under the protection of one or more patron deities, but they also had the ability to control the supernatural force of mana that was distributed in natural objects and substances as well as in subjects, like their human clients. All of these entities were propitiated with offerings and sacrifices and they were ritually honored in temples and other sacred locations to keep their favor close to the living.Īlthough priests had the power to directly communicate with these important divinities, so too did expert artisans – albeit in a different way. This mystical relationship was forged by the actions of a large number of patron deities that held sway over daily activities, such as agriculture, fishing, navigation, warfare, and the creation of art forms including tattoo, while more “personal” gods watched over individuals, families, and local communities. Over time, the inhabitants of Polynesia not only became farmers, fishermen, seafaring merchants, and artisans they also developed complex political and religious institutions where obedience to chiefs, royal families, priests, ancestors, and the gods was part of everyday existence.įrom a religious perspective, Polynesian peoples shared a widespread belief that the universe was governed by invisible forces that could determine, influence, and control the events of life and human destiny itself. However, it would be another eight hundred years before their descendants colonized other parts of Oceania, including the Marquesas (100 B.C.), Easter Island (400 A.D.), Hawaii (500 A.D.), Tahiti (600 A.D.), and New Zealand (900 A.D.). They told stories about the descent of chiefs from gods, the voyages of ancestral heroes, and myths of creation, and they also left behind tattooing tools and pottery fragments that broadly resemble tattooing designs. For their new lives among the coral atolls and volcanic peaks, they transported seeds, domesticated animals, and agricultural implements. The Lapitas traveled immense distances, sometimes over two thousand miles of ocean without landfall, navigating by the stars and without the aid of instruments. Down through the millennia, these “Vikings of the Pacific” made the ocean realm of what is the Pacific their own.
When the first Europeans arrived on the beaches of Polynesia in the late 16th century, the islands were home to some 500,000 people descended from the great seafaring Lapitas who reached Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa by at least 1100 B.C., if not earlier.
To further complete patterns in these tattoos, the sun and ocean symbols are often used to depict the culture, leadership, and richness.The Pacific Ocean covers one-third of the planet and washes the shores of numerous island chains, including Polynesia that literally means “many islands.” Roughly speaking, the geographical area of Polynesia forms a nearly perfect triangle defined by Hawaii at the northern tip supported by its two bases: New Zealand at the western edge and Easter Island at the eastern boundary. Within these shells, a Marquesan cross is often placed, a cross that represents a balance of the elements and a natural harmony. When the turtle shell is not used, simple seashells are as they symbolize protection, intimacy, and marriage. Turtle shells are often used as the main design of the piece and stand behind other symbols that are incorporated into the overall art. Turtles themselves represent wellness, peace, a long life, and fertility. Though you can place these everywhere, it is fundamental to recognize the symbols and the deep meanings that they possess.Ī common symbol within this art are shells, specifically turtle shells. When one receives a Polynesian tattoo, it is commonly placed on the chest and often down the one or both of the arms.
Polynesian 4 elements tattoo designs full#
When most think about this culture, they imagine a tropical setting full of ocean life, warmth, and even strength when contemplating the warriors who fought to defend this fascinating heritage. The Polynesian culture is an ancient one and the symbols used to portray it are distinguishable yet antique as well.
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