It is said that the Samoan tattooing tradition actually came from Fiji. There is a myth about two Fijian sisters who swam across the sea. On their journey they chanted, “we shall tattoo the women, not the men.” (In Fiji it is customary that the women are tattooed). Along the way the two saw a giant clam on the sea bed and dove for it. In excitement they jumbled the words and, on their return to the surface, again began chanting, “we shall tattoo the men, not the women”(A.R.). Anders Ryman, a freelance journalist, writes, “there are places in Polynesia...where tattooing is undergoing a revival, but only in Samoa has the tradition remained unbroken over the years,” (Ryman). The tradition of the tatau is an enormous part of Samoa’s culture and has stayed active for a number of years. The Samoans believe “both sexes must endure pain” (Ryman). Women suffer through childbirth, so men must experience something relatively equivalent. It’s only fair.
The verb “to tattoo” comes from the Samoan word “ta tau,” meaning fitting, correct, or appropriate (Australian Museum). The Samoan tattoo signifies a transition to manhood. The basic design is the same for all tattoos, but it’s the small designs within that set each one apart. Un-tattooed men were often called “pula u”, foul tasting taro (Ryman). Though the tradition is no longer mandatory, men still choose to take the pain. Each tattoo means something different. They have a personal meaning to each ink bearer. Both male and female tattoos show that you are ready for life, that you have suffered greatly and can overcome most anything. There are specific types of tattoo meant for each sex, each with a different placement and meaning: There is the Pe’a, a male tattoo spanning from the knees to the lower back, completely covering the lower extremities. For a slightly better image, when Samoa was first discovered by explorer Jacob Roggeveen, he saw men on shore wearing what looked like black pants. The amount of ink used in the Pe’a is so much that it looks like a pair of trousers from a distance. This is the most traditional tattoo and used to be required for men to don. This tattoo represents sexuallity and vitality. It also shows strength due to the fact that it takes about three full days to complete and is more painful than any of the other tattoos. The men will usually stop after a few hours to recover or …show more content…
This tattoo shows strength and power.
The Malu is a female tattoo going from the knees to below the hips. This is the female equivelant to the Pe’a, except the designs are much smaller and only takes a few hours to complete. The tattoo is less filled in: it consists of small dots and dashes and simple geometric designs using not nearly as much ink. The actual “malu”, a small rhombus, is tattooed on the back of the knees. The meaning of the word malu has been lost over time, so no one is quite sure what it where the tattoo itself originated from or what it signifies. It was customary for daughters of chiefs to bare this tattoo.
And finally, there is the Lima, a female hand tattoo. One of these used to be required to serve kava, a beverage typically served at tribal
The verb “to tattoo” comes from the Samoan word “ta tau,” meaning fitting, correct, or appropriate (Australian Museum). The Samoan tattoo signifies a transition to manhood. The basic design is the same for all tattoos, but it’s the small designs within that set each one apart. Un-tattooed men were often called “pula u”, foul tasting taro (Ryman). Though the tradition is no longer mandatory, men still choose to take the pain. Each tattoo means something different. They have a personal meaning to each ink bearer. Both male and female tattoos show that you are ready for life, that you have suffered greatly and can overcome most anything. There are specific types of tattoo meant for each sex, each with a different placement and meaning: There is the Pe’a, a male tattoo spanning from the knees to the lower back, completely covering the lower extremities. For a slightly better image, when Samoa was first discovered by explorer Jacob Roggeveen, he saw men on shore wearing what looked like black pants. The amount of ink used in the Pe’a is so much that it looks like a pair of trousers from a distance. This is the most traditional tattoo and used to be required for men to don. This tattoo represents sexuallity and vitality. It also shows strength due to the fact that it takes about three full days to complete and is more painful than any of the other tattoos. The men will usually stop after a few hours to recover or …show more content…
This tattoo shows strength and power.
The Malu is a female tattoo going from the knees to below the hips. This is the female equivelant to the Pe’a, except the designs are much smaller and only takes a few hours to complete. The tattoo is less filled in: it consists of small dots and dashes and simple geometric designs using not nearly as much ink. The actual “malu”, a small rhombus, is tattooed on the back of the knees. The meaning of the word malu has been lost over time, so no one is quite sure what it where the tattoo itself originated from or what it signifies. It was customary for daughters of chiefs to bare this tattoo.
And finally, there is the Lima, a female hand tattoo. One of these used to be required to serve kava, a beverage typically served at tribal