Art of the Tattoo Presentation

1. The Art
of the Tattoo
An Overview of the History of Tattooing
in Cultures Worldwide

2. Tattoos in Inuit Culture
Tattoos have an extensive history in Inuit Culture, and have
begun to resurge in popularity. Called “kakiniit”, tattoos were
revered in Inuit society as they were used for acupuncture, pain
relief, beautification, and shamanistic reasons. Although their
designs varied by region and each individual’s tattoo pattern
had its own symbolic meaning, tattoos generally represented
significant life events, including womanhood and motherhood.
According to Inuit traditions, tattoos were necessary for one’s
journey to the afterlife, especially for women; a lack of hand
and face tattoos was believed to deny them access to the
afterlife. Despite tattoos’ symbolism and strong significance in
Inuit Culture, by the beginning of the 20th century, as European
missionaries began colonizing natives, the Catholic church
condemned tattoos as evil and eventually banned them.
Nevertheless, recent revitalization efforts by Inuit cultural
activists have managed to revive the tradition of kakiniit and
bring it back to practice in Inuit communities.

3. Fun Facts: Inuit Tattoos
● According to Inuit traditions, if a
woman does not receive face
tattoos, she will be sent to the land
of Noqurmiut, where she would
hang upside down and emit smoke
for eternity
● Kakiniit was made one of two ways:
1) thread was dipped into
soot or seal oil and sewed
into the skin
2) a sharp needle was
dipped into soot or seal oil
and poked into the skin

4. Fun Facts: Inuit Tattoos
● Women in Inuit Culture were
unable to marry until they
received tattoos on their
faces
● Due to persecution, the
meanings of many Inuit
tattoos were lost, but current
revitalization efforts have
encouraged the invention of
new meanings for them

5. Fun Facts: Inuit Tattoos
● Inuit legends believe the
meaning behind tattoos
originated from the sea
goddess Sedna, who is believed
to have created seals, walruses,
and whales
● Inuit tattooists were usually
older women who were
experienced in embroidery

6. Tattoos in Maori Culture
For many centuries prior to European colonization, the Maori
Culture practiced the art of making, incorporating it into their
daily lives. Called “ta moko”, these tattoos represented the shift
from childhood to adulthood and were often used to make
individuals more attractive. Most Maori high-ranking officials
were required to receive tattoos as they signified their high
status and rank. Europeans who traveled to New Zealand often
became fascinated with the Maoris tattoos and took part in the
practice of both collecting and trading mokomokai (tattooed
Maori heads). However, by the 1860s, changing fashion trends
and non-acceptance of tattoos by European colonizers led to a
decline in the practice of ta moko, eventually completely
stopping the tattooing of Maori men. Nevertheless, since 1990, a
resurgence of the practice of ta moko among both Maori men
and women has preserved the culture’s tradition of tattooing
and promoted its acceptance among non-Maori New
Zealanders.

7. Fun Facts: Maori Tattoos
● Ta moko was often associated
with the Maori concept of
mana (authority and
influence) and high social
status
● Ta moko was originally carved
into the skin using uhi (chisels
made of albatross bone) and
pigment containing awheto
(caterpillar fungus)

8. Fun Facts: Maori Tattoos
● European settlers, mostly
runaway seamen or escaped
convicts, often settled in
Maori communities and
received facial tattoos
(called pakeha)
● “Kirituhi” is a commonly used
Maori term that literally
translates to “skin writing”

9. Fun Facts: Maori Tattoos
● In the late 19th century, uhi
became replaced by metal
needles in the ta moko
tattooing process, making the
texture of the tattoos much
smoother
● Ta moko on women’s lips and
chin are commonly referred
to as “pukauae” or “moko
kauae”

10. Tattoos in Chinese Culture
Throughout Chinese history, tattoos have often been both
stigmatized and denounced . Called “ci chen” or “wen
shen” (literally translating to “puncture the body”), tattoos
were often an uncommon practice in China. They were
regarded by the public as defamation of the body,
something that was undesirable and atrocious. However,
they were repeated referred to in literature while depicting
bandits and heroes, with the most famous example being
the classical Chinese novel Water Margin. By the time of
the reign of the Qing Dynasty (17th-20th centuries), it was
common to practice tattooing characters such as
“Prisoner” on criminals’ faces. Occasionally, slaves were
also tattooed to display ownership. However, with the
spread of Western concepts of beauty in the 20th and 21st
centuries, tattoos have become associated with gang
culture in China and are often criticized by the public as
they run counter to Confucian ideals.

11. Fun Facts: Chinese Tattoos
● According to Chinese legend, the
mother of a famous general
named Yue Fei tattooed the
words “Repay the Country with
Pure Loyalty” on his back before
he joined the army
● Marco Polo recorded that
individuals from Upper India
often traveled to the Chinese city
of Quanzhou to be tattooed

12. Fun Facts: Chinese Tattoos
● During primitive times, people
from China used white mud or
charcoal to draw figures on their
bodies in order to either beautify
themselves or scare their
enemies
● In ancient Chinese classic
literature, there were various type
of tattoos, including lou shen
(“tattoo the body”), zha qing, dian
qing, and diao qing (“carving”)

13. Fun Facts: Chinese Tattoos
● Some ethnic groups in
ancient China tattooed
themselves in order to avoid
encounters from
mythological characters
● Ancient Chinese tattoos
signified adulthood and
connected to coming-of-age
customs, including marriage

14. Tattoos in Visayan Culture
Tattoos have long been practiced and appreciated by the
Visayan Culture of the Philippines, which is known for its
ornate and complete-body tattoo patterns. Called “batuk”
or “patik”, tattoos were seen as symbols of tribal identity,
kinship, bravery, beauty, and social status in Visayan
society. Tattoos were so highly regarded that all adults
were expected to have them, and men even wore a simple
loincloth just to show them off. They were first acquired
during the initiation into adulthood, gradually moving up
from the feet to the waist. Tattoos on the upper body were
only reserved for notable feats, including getting married
or gaining a victory in battle. Although the practice of batuk
was prominent among the Visayans, it eventually fell out of
favor due to modernization and western influence during
the 19th to mid-20th centuries, remaining today as a highly
endangered tradition.

15. Fun Facts: Visayan Tattoos
● Making batuk involved using
a small hammer to tap a
tattooing needle set on a
wooden handle into the skin
● Ink for batuk, called biro, was
made from soot or ashes
and water or plant extract

16. Fun Facts: Visayan Tattoos
● In the highlands of the
Philippines, similar to batuk,
pagababatuk (another style of
tattooing) was done primarily
on hunters and warriors
● Visayans were known to
Spanish Conquistadors as Los
Pintados (“The Painted Ones”)
due to the tattoos all over their
bodies

17. Fun Facts: Visayan Tattoos
● Visayan men who were tattooed
but have not participated in any
battles were called “halo” (lizard)
because they were believed to be
undeserving of the tattoo
● Visayans often called face tattoos
on males “bangut” (muzzle) or
“langi” (gaping beaks) because
they were designed to resemble
frightening masks

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