By Thalita Alves. Traditional M?ori tattoos, known as t? moko, carry a lot of spiritual and mythical meaning. … Anyone can get kirituhi, no matter where they come from or their cultural upbringing: they have been created so that M?ori can share their customs with the masses.
Moreover, what does a Ta Moko represent?
T? moko – the art of M?ori tattoo – is a unique expression of cultural heritage and identity. In M?ori culture, it reflects the individual’s whakapapa (ancestry) and personal history. In earlier times it was an important signifier of social rank, knowledge, skill and eligibility to marry.
Similarly one may ask, what is Kirituhi?
Translated from M?ori language Kirituhi means ‘marking the skin’. It is a contemporary tattoo art form based on T? Moko. This tattoo artform is very unique from the perspective of creation, the tattoo tells a story of the wearer and also a story of the tattoo process itself.
Can any Maori get a Ta Moko?
Ta Moko is primarily for those of Maori blood and descent, while Kirituhi is for those of non Maori heritage. Ta Moko and Kirituhi tell a story, the story of the person wearing the tattoo.
Can you design your own Ta Moko?
Your original hand-crafted Ta Moko designs (Maori Tattoo designs) can be taken to a reputable Tattoo Artist in your own city where you can have your Maori Tattoo designs applied to your skin.
Why is Ta Moko important?
A moko on the face is the ultimate statement of one’s identity as a M?ori. The head is believed to be the most sacred part of the body. To wear the moko on the face is to bear an undeniable declaration of who you are.
What does a tattoo on a woman’s chin mean?
Most notably, they were tattooed on the chin as part of the ritual of social maturity, a signal to men that a woman had reached puberty. Chin patterns also served to protect women during enemy raids.
Does Moko mean grandchild?
moko. 1. (noun) grandchild – a term of address used by an older person for a grandchild or a young child. Short for mokopuna.
What does the Koru symbolize?
The koru, which is often used in M?ori art as a symbol of creation, is based on the shape of an unfurling fern frond. Its circular shape conveys the idea of perpetual movement, and its inward coil suggests a return to the point of origin.
What are Kowhaiwhai patterns?
Kowhaiwhai patterns are traditional M?ori art, often found on M?ori meeting houses called Maraes. The Kowhaiwhai patterns are history recorded by M?ori and each tell a story. The colours used on them are traditionally red, white and black.
Who can wear a moko Kauae?
In less than one generation that thinking has been largely discarded, as part of a deliberate “decolonising” of those perceived barriers – and as a result the practice of moko kauae is widespread, with a general consensus that the only eligibility criterion is whakapapa – if you are a M?ori woman, you have the right to …
Can Pakeha get Maori tattoos?
Ta Moko is actually a status conferred on a tattoo that contains whakapapa within the design, the Moko acts as a representation of a cultural status. In summary: No Pakeha will ever get Ta Moko because no Maori could justifiably recognise and proclaim the status over them.
Can a white person get a Polynesian tattoo?
So can you get a Polynesian tattoo as a white person? Sure you can. And it will bother some people because they have no way of knowing if you participated in that tradition respectfully or not.
