The tradition of totemism is remained until nowadays in the culture of primitive African tribes, and native tribes of Australia and Polynesia.  Maori, which represent Polynesian people, use Ta Moko with profound meaning. Like the certificate of identity it tells about the person’s family tree, a social status, and occupation. This way one could literally read the person by tattoos engraved on his body. In addition the ornament of a tattoo reflects the philosophy of life: integrity of life’s spirit, the deep bonds between relatives, and rebirth of the ancestors spirits.
Experienced Maori, when meeting another person will first read his tattoos trying to find common roots with himself.  In present days Ta Moko lost its original importance and meaning, but even now you can meet people in New Zealand and even Europe who have tattoos, which tell something about them.
Aggressive Maori during whole centuries solved conflicts by means of bats and swords made of stone or wood. The prisoners were killed and eaten. Maori believed that when they eat their enemies, they receive their spirit and life energy. So it is not surprising that their whole bodies were covered with tattoos. Ta Moko different from the common tattoo in the way it applied: in Ta Moko, first a skin was cut in spiral cuts using a bone chisel with very sharp edge, which were later filled with ink. The color ink is made of plants and caterpillar’s body (the caterpillars that were used for this, were intentionally infected with fungus and died as a result).
Dark and black ink was used in facial tattoos, and were made from kauri trees. The whole process was extremely painful, and it was forbidden to eat solid foods afterwards, in order to prevent infection. So Maori used a reed tube to deliver water and liquid food straight into the gullet. During the whole ceremony flute music and chant poems were performed to help ease the pain.

In my next article I will tell about the meanings of different Maori tattos. My second article is titled Ta Moko Explained in details

Related posts:

1. Maori Jade Amulets