What is the difference between Tatau and Ta Moko?

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. Ta Moko and Kirituhi tell a story, the story of the person wearing the tattoo.

What does a Ta Moko represent?

Tā moko – the art of Māori tattoo – is a unique expression of cultural heritage and identity. In Māori culture, it reflects the individual’s whakapapa (ancestry) and personal history. In earlier times it was an important signifier of social rank, knowledge, skill and eligibility to marry.

Why did the Māori have tattoos?

To the Maori, tattooing is linked to mana or a sense of pride and prestige. The head is considered to be the most sacred part of the body, so ta moko was reserved for the face only and for Maori of high social status. Facial moko for Maori women was a chin tattoo or moko kauae.

Do all Māori have tattoos?

Do only Māori get moko? As moko is a Māori tradition, and a symbol of integrity, Māori identity and prestige, only tattoos that are done by and on Māori are considered to be moko.

What’s the difference between Ta moko and Tatu?

FAQ: Ta moko – Māori tattoo art. ‘Tattoo’ is the English version of the Tahitian word tatu. Tattoo is the tradition of marking the skin with ink and needles, whereas moko is the practice of scarring and marking the skin to reflect the whakapapa (genealogy) of the Māori wearer. Moko can be seen as a cultural affirmation.

Where did the word ta moko come from?

The word tattoo is actually said to be British explorer Captain Cook’s adaptation of the Tahitian word tautau. During his voyages of discovery, Cook described the ta moko of the Maori people as spirals of “nicety” or elegance. But they were far more than mere decoration. For Maori, these tattoos were highly revered, ritualized, and symbolic.

Can a non-Maori get a ta moko tattoo?

Tā moko is still practiced today and, for many, there remains a strong link between these tattoos and their Maori heritage. But perhaps not for all. Some Maori tattoo artists use the word kirituhi, meaning skin decoration, for tattooing non-Māori people. And it has become more common for Pakeha – white people – to be given Maori tattoos.

What was the traditional tool of Ta Moko?

Traditional tā moko artists used a chisel to scar and mark the skin. The modern tool of tā moko is the tattoo machine, although some tā moko artists alternate between traditional and modern methods. While the needle is faster and more precise, hand tools bring the ritual more in line with how it was done traditionally.