Speculating about the Origin of Water Tattoos

It is a widely held view that the art of tattoo originated from Polynesia and is derived from the Polynesian word "Ta-tau" which means "to strike a mark". The practice is part of a cultural tradition typically applied to coincide with ceremonies of the time. Tattoos were applied using a variety of tools. The most common being a comb like utensil made from wood or bone with numerous sharp needles.

The process of applying a tattoo to the body includes coating the sharpened needle with a pigment (usually from the ashes of a fire) which is then mixed with water or oil. The needle is then tapped to pierce the skin which is then impregnated with the pigment, leaving a permanent mark. This was, and still is, a painful experience for the recipient.

Most of the early Polynesian designs consisted of rectangles, lines and triangles all joined together. It is not clear why these designs were chosen but many speculate that it could be symbolic of the sails used on sailing craft of the time. This will have been a common sight in the islands at the time. The more detailed designs were typically used for more important people in society and were applied by master craftsmen.

Many cultures around the world have since adopted the practice of tattoo art. English sailors that visited the region adopted the practice. Initially they used simple designs and over time more sophisticated designs began to appear. In many cases these reflected the life or the environment of a sailor at sea; for example palm trees, mermaids, waves and islands. Apparently they exchanged ideas with Polynesians at the time and consequently there was a cross-fertilisation of ideas. Early sailors used gunpowder as the dye.

Some cultures preferred to tattoo only certain parts of the body and these were often different for men and women. For example, Maori women would tattoo their chin and lips while the men would sometimes cover their whole face. Hawaiians would tattoo opposing parts of the body, for example they might tattoo the left shoulder and the right thigh. In Tahiti, men typically cover their thighs and buttocks with tattoo designs while women paint their arms, legs and upper bodies.

Apart from the early use of tattoo’s by the Celts, Europeans did not adopt the art widely. It would seem that early designs were heavily influenced by sailors and their environment. This is perhaps why water tattoos are so popular. They have a strong heritage in the art and water is a pure, fresh and refreshing image. The Polynesians are a sea faring people and their art would have also been heavily influenced by the sea. As discussed before, the lines and shapes seem to depict sailing vessels at sea.

Today the art is mainstream. Body art has become common place and there are numerous designs for almost anything you can imagine. Of course more recently, the introduction of colour has added a new dimension to the art. In early days of European tattooing it was mainly males that had tattoos. Today females are adopting the art readily and their needs are bringing a new dimension to the art.

By looking at the history of tattoos, it is possible that early applications by Polynesians and English sailors were influenced by the sea; and that is why water tattoos are so popular today.

About The Author-- Pete has an interest in tattoo designs and in more recent times has been interested in the origins of water tattoos

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