How can I “read” Polynesian tattoos?
Posted by Maris on 8th Sep 2023
We’ve been asked many times over the years how to interpret and understand the meaning of a Polynesian tattoo.
Each time, the answer has been the same: it is impossible. Almost.
When you look at the two tattoos above, it’s evident that they serve different functions and connotations, with the one on the left relating to femininity and the one on the right relating to a warrior.
Given that each symbol can have several meanings, the way it is utilized and related with other symbols enables for distinct meanings and tales to be represented each time.
The enata, for example, represents a human. It might be a father in one tattoo, a buddy in another, or even the tattoo’s bearer.
The tiki is a protector who might be either a god or a deified ancestor.
The ipu represents fertility but can also indicate good breezes and ancestors, especially when coupled with another mirrored ipu.
The story behind each meaning is just as important as the symbol itself, and the same is true for tattoos as a whole: it’s impossible to say exactly what they represent because each symbol acquires its correct meaning only when viewed in the context of the entire tattoo and about its specific story.
The only people who know the exact significance of each portion of a Polynesian tattoo are the artist who created it and the person who received it, which contributes to the beauty of these tattoos because they are completely personal and the stories they tell remain private even though they are visible.
The larger tattoo pieces usually reflect the most significant features, while the smaller ones add to the story’s details.
The arrangement and size of the tattoo’s pieces can provide us clues about its overall meaning, its main symbolism, but we can’t go much farther if we try to read it without knowing its tale.
Consider the following tattoo as an example:
When we examine the design, we notice that the major element is the tiki (divinity, ancestor), which is encased in the general shape of a mere (a fighting club and a primarily symbol):
- A further inspection allows us to identify several secondary elements:
- all-seeing eye (protection)
- fish hook (prosperity)
- chasing birds (support to the loved ones)
- path of Kamehameha (challenging path)
- spearheads (warrior, strength)
- stepping stones (achievements, lessons)
- adze (skills, hard work)
- enata (man)
- shark teeth (adaptability, protection)
- sun (success, joy)
- waves (change)
- mountains (stability)
If we were to interpret the tattoo, we’d say it’s about protection, given the size of the tiki and the presence of the all-seeing eye (along with the chasing birds for good measure).
It deals with problems and faces them boldly, as seen by the spearheads laid along Kamehameha’s road, and skilfully (the adze) until reaching success (which is at the end of this path).
It may also indicate to dignity and respect for the mere, as well as prosperity for the fish hook.
That’s about all we can say with certainty.
Let’s start with the story and then move on to the design: it’s a memorial tattoo for a father (the tiki), who was a well-known and respected person (the mere-like shape), who taught his son everything he knew (the stepping stones at the bottom) so that he could take his place at the front. (The tiki is carrying the enata within the sun, and the mere itself has been passed down from generation to generation).
The father, a solid figure (the mountains), supported his son (chasing birds close to him) and made him prosperous (the fish hook nearby) by teaching him the necessary skills (adze and spearheads) to face every challenge bravely (Kamehameha’s path), preparing him for his new role as leader (set within the sun) after his departure (the waves moving away from the son toward the tiki, the deified ancestor).
Now that we know the whole tale, each symbol fits into it, and the meaning of each element becomes evident within the context of the entire tattoo.
So, while it’s generally feasible to deduce what a tattoo is about (family, protection, prosperity, warrior–), it’s impossible to deduce the specific story, or the significance of each element, without first learning the story.
Tattoos, like all visual arts from Polynesia, have always fulfilled the crucial role of serving as visual aids to a narrative, whether it’s a personal story tattooed on skin or a historical deed passed down orally from generation to generation over the millennia. They’re more than just attractive patterns.
Both the story and the design are equally vital, and it’s difficult to appreciate the latter without first understanding the former. The intended recipient of a tattoo is the only one who truly understands its meaning and can thus tap into its mana. A tattoo can only help a person’s mana if it is meaningful to their story. When that happens, anything can happen.