The coming of age tattoos in Maori culture
Tattoos have become common in present times. While most people decide to ink down their most dear memories or values on their skin, there are times when many people fail to understand the importance and significance of a tattoo. Quite contrary to it, the Maori tribe of New Zealand considers tattoos an immensely important part of their culture. They are very specific and respectable towards their tattoos and the message they convey.
The Moko Kuae, or the chin tattoos, reserved for Maori women, are considered to embark on one’s emergence from childhood towards adulthood. Getting tattooed in Maori culture symbolizes the transition of an individual from a child to an adult. It is a common belief among the Maoris that Maori women are born with a tattoo that is ‘close to their hearts. The tattoo artist merely plays their part in bringing those tattoos to the surface of the skin.