Pardon My French

Tahiti’s Tattoo Traditions

Tahiti is the largest island in French Polynesia, located in the South Pacific ocean. Today, French Polynesia remains a collectivity of the Republic of France. With its many islands, French Polynesia remains a popular tourist destination year round. Each island has its own unique cultural offerings and traditions, but today we’ll be exploring French Polynesian tattoo culture. 

A History

The intricacies and rich history of Polynesian tattoos have gained mythical status. The word tattoo itself is derived from tatau, Tahitian for ‘mark’ or ‘draw.’ And while the origins of tattoos are rather vague and mostly lost to time, there’s no doubt that tattoos remain an integral part of Polynesian cultural expression. The art of tattooing is widespread across the South Pacific and common in Maori, Samoan, Hawaiian, and Marquesan cultures, but each is different and extremely nuanced.

Tahitian tattoos blend Marquesan and Samoan styles with modern Western elements.

Tahitian tattoos are typically a blend of Polynesian and Western art. In French Polynesia, even with the arrival of Western settlers/colonizers (when tattooing became decidedly taboo) the practice was able to survive. Settlers tried to prohibit the art of tattooing; yet, a sort of fascination with the tattoo was reborn amongst Europeans.

More Than Skin Deep

According to France’s tourism website, the word tattoo is derived from the expression ‘Ta-Atouas’. The root ‘ta’ means ‘drawing’ and ‘atua’ means ‘spirit, god’. In short, tattoos have deep cultural and spiritual significance to Polynesians. Tattoos are key to an individual’s identity, and once represented family lineage and social status. They are often regarded as connections to one’s past, heritage, and ancestors. In essence, they are meant to tell a person’s life story, including references to their interests, occupation, or achievements. 

On a more spiritual level, tattoos also serve as a connector between individual, nature, and the spiritual realm; they serve to collect and preserve mana— in simple terms, a supernatural life force present in people, objects, and places. Moreover, they act as symbols of protection. Certain designs are reserved for certain families. Some tattoos contain noa— or common— elements, while tapu elements are considered sacred. Each design carries its own meaning, and even placement plays a role in the message that an individual may want to get across. 

The Process

Traditionally, tattoos are made using a comb or needle that is made from bone, shell or shark’s teeth. The needle is placed on the skin and tapped with a second wooden stick, in order to puncture the skin, allowing the ink to enter the skin. Given how painful the process is, getting a tattoo is also a symbol of strength, courage, and dedication to honoring tradition. Becausing getting a tattoo is considered a rite of passage, individuals often undergo a tattooing ceremony. 

For thousands of years, the art of tattooing in French Polynesia has endured as if following the concept that people take nothing with them when they die; tattoos are the only thing that remain with an individual into the afterlife, forever carved into their skin.