Ta Moko was worn by both men and women. It was applied to the face and buttocks of men, and to the chin, lips and shoulders of women. Depending on their ranking, they may also have Ta Moko on their face.
The 'moko' traditionally refers to male facial tattooing, while 'kauae' is moko on the chins of women. In pre-European Māori culture, high-ranking persons received moko as a status symbol.
The Maori facial tattoo was not only seen as a sign of rank though, but was also used as a kind of identification card. For men, their face tattoo showed their accomplishments, status, position, ancestry and marital status.
Moko meaning
The term moko traditionally applied to male facial tattooing, while kauae referred to moko on the chins of women. There were other specific terms for tattooing on other parts of the body.
A moko can only be done by a Māori for a Māori. No respected Tā Moko artist (called Tohunga Tā Moko) would do one on a non-Māori, since it is strictly reserved for people with Māori whakapapa (genealogy). Māori-style tattoos, on the other hand, are considered a different art form and are referred to as Kirituhi.
The 3 lines tattooed on the chin is a common sight in many cultures. In some societies, the lines represent the three stages of a woman's life: maiden, mother, and crone. In others, the lines stand for the three elements of nature: earth, air, and water.
In pre-European Māori culture, many if not most high-ranking persons received moko. Moko were associated with mana and high social status; however, some very high-status individuals were considered too tapu to acquire moko, and it was also not considered suitable for some tohunga to do so.
Many Indigenous tribes around the world have distinctive traditional facial tattoos—the Māori have Tā Moko, the Inuit have Kakiniit—but Gwich'in tattoos often appear as three distinctive lines on the chin, as well as lines on the cheeks or corners of the eye.
Ta Moko was worn by both men and women. It was applied to the face and buttocks of men, and to the chin, lips and shoulders of women. Depending on their ranking, they may also have Ta Moko on their face.
Moko has in recent years been divided into two main branches; Ta Moko and Kirituhi. Ta Moko is primarily for those of Maori blood and descent, while Kirituhi is for those of non Maori heritage.
As māori believe the head is the most sacred part of the body, facial tattoos have special significance. Moko kauae - are received by women on their lips and chin. A moko kauae represents a woman's whānau and leadership within her community, recognising her whakapapa, status, and abilities.
The chin tattoo has different meanings depending on what tribe you are from in California. This indelible marker of identity denoted coming of age, status within the tribe and tribal affiliation. Historically the tattoo was given during a puberty ceremony and could be modified after significant life events.
MAORI SUN. It represents wealth, brilliance and leadership. It's considered resource of light, natural health and nourishment. It's a tattoo very dynamic to watch.
For New Zealand Māori women, the moko kauae, or traditional female chin tattoo, is considered a physical manifestation of their true identity. It is believed every Māori woman wears a moko on the inside, close to their heart; when they are ready, the tattoo artist simply brings it out to the surface.
The first lines tattooed on the chin marked a girl who had come of age and was now an adult. That was celebrated. Tattoos symbolized moments in a woman's life, reflecting things like marriage and children. More tattoos meant a woman was older and had accomplished more, which was also celebrated.
The koru (Māori for 'loop or coil') is a spiral shape based on the appearance of a new unfurling silver fern frond. It is an integral symbol in Māori art, carving and tattooing, where it symbolises new life, growth, strength and peace.
For New Zealand Māori women, the moko kauae, or traditional female chin tattoo, is considered a physical manifestation of their true identity. It is believed every Māori woman wears a moko on the inside, close to their heart; when they are ready, the tattoo artist simply brings it out to the surface.
Māori. Among the Māori people, men traditionally received tattoos on the entire face, while in women it was mostly restricted to the lips (kauwae) and chins. These tattoos were traditionally part of the initiation into adulthood and signified rank and status, as well as being considered beautiful.
Māori brought this method of tattooing with them from Eastern Polynesia. tāmoko apply traditional tattooMāori | Noun (also known as tā moko) developed in isolation in Aotearoa New Zealand, Māori pioneered the use of smaller, narrower uhi without teeth that cut grooves through the skin.
Evidence suggests that no, Vikings most likely did not have tattoos on their heads. Ibn Fadlan described that the Vikings' markings spanned from their fingertips to the back of their necks. So Viking skull tattoos and Viking face tattoos seem unlikely.
Vikings are said to have visible markings on their hands, bodies, and faces. Arab scholar Iban Fadlan suggested that these markings were a collection of different symbols along their fingertips to the nape of their necks.
1. (noun) grandchild - a term of address used by an older person for a grandchild or a young child. Short for mokopuna.
I use the word 'privilege' deliberately as it reminds us that any Pākehā women seeking to or wearing moko kauae do not do so as a right, they do so as a privilege. Moko kauae is the right of Māori women.
The designs of Maori male facial tattooing commonly known as Moko, are also referred to as Mataora Moko. Mataora is the Mythical figure attributed with venturing into Rarohenga (the Underworld), bringing back with him knowledge of tattooing.
Although Moana is from the fictional island Motunui some 3,000 years ago, the story and culture of Moana is based on the very real heritage and history of Polynesian islands such as Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, and Tahiti. In fact, once you start looking for ties to Polynesian culture in Moana, it's hard to stop!