Tattoos serve cultural purposes beyond individual expression. Different cultures use tattoos to convey important information like ancestry, rites of passage, religious beliefs, and group affiliation. Tattoo methods vary widely between cultures, from sharpened bamboo in Thailand to facial designs resembling facial hair among the Dulong people of China. Cultural tattoos each carry distinct meanings appropriate to the traditions of groups like the Maori, Thai, Hawaiian, and Hindus.

1. Cultural
Tattoos

2. Why Are Tattoos
Cultural?
• Tattoos define individuals but are also used as
symbols that society can use to identify them as part
of a certain group or demographic.
• Not every tattoo happens in a tattoo studio. Many
cultural methods are used, involving sharpened
bamboo sticks, metal tools or even the teeth of a
barracuda.
• Different types of tattoos require different kinds of
tattoo aftercare, and different kinds also use different
kinds and colors of ink that can affect the skin
differently.

3. Check out the following
cultural tattoos to get a
sense of what kinds of
tattoos are common
throughout the world.

4. Maori Tattoo

5. Maori Tattoo
• Maoris have facial tattoos that resemble masks to
tell their life story and delineate their ancestry.
• This is known as ta moko.

6. Traditional Thai Tattoo

7. Traditional Thai Tattoo
• Thai tattoos are performed using bamboo reeds
and ink derived from organic substances.
• This is a practice begun centuries ago, and still
continues today.

8. Chinese Dulong Tattoo

9. Chinese Dulong Tattoo
• A clan-based society in China, the Dulong or
Derung had 15 clans.
• Every woman would receive facial tattoos after the
age of 12 or 13, and could sometimes resemble
facial hair.

10. Hawaiian Tattoo

11. Hawaiian Tattoo
• Hawaiian tattoos can have a variety of different
meanings:
– Religion
– Rite of Passage
– War stories
– Status
– Heritage

12. Gang Tattoo

13. Gang Tattoo
• Gang tattoos most often show allegiance to a
particular gang.
• Other tattoos can symbolize kills or time served in
prison.

14. Hindu Henna Tattoo

15. Hindu Henna Tattoo
• Henna has been a significant part of Hindu culture
for several centuries.
• Although it is now used as part of wedding
preparations, Hindu women could wear henna
tattoos at any time.