Reviewed and Updated: October 19, 2022 by Jamie Wilson BA
Are you looking for one of the oldest types of art, namely the Tongan tattoo? Keep reading the article to get some of the most intriguing ideas.
Tongan tattoo creates beautiful symmetrical illusions all over the body.
The Tongan name for tattooing is tatatau. The traditional tatatau has long been a custom of Pacific island cultures.
As Tonga became westernized over time, these tattoo designs faded, but the art form made a comeback in early 2002. The designs are influenced by Polynesian culture and the different patterns have meaning. To date, these tribal tattoos are quite famous and each tattoo style looks different. Tataus in men are usually located from the waist to the knees and therefore cover much of the body area. The traditional Tongan tattoo designs for women consist of symmetrical lines across the thigh region.
Simple Tongan tattoo
This is a simple design of a traditional Tongan tattoo inked in black color from the upper knee to the ankle. Tongan chiefs loved to have such designs on their skin as it was part of their traditional practices, but nowadays these cultural traditions of Tonga are widely spread in other parts of the world. Beautiful and bold, these tattoos are easily noticeable due to their dark patterns on the skin.
The Tongan tattoos are inked from the traditional period of Tonga, which dates back to the early 1800’s when westerners arrived in the Pacific Ocean. Also, it takes courage for a person to get a Tongan tattoo because of their heavy designs.
Tongan tortoise shell tattoo
It is a very beautiful medium sized tattoo with many subtle designs. It shows the authenticity of the Tatau tribe. The design is less intricate than the other Tongan tattoos but the faded blacks look striking.
The tortoise is a very important creature in Polynesian cultures. It symbolizes peace, health, patience, tranquility, longevity and love of the ocean. Strength and defense are the two words that mean the shell. It has a spiritual meaning that makes it very prominent in traditional Polynesian tattooing.
Number Tongan tribal tattoo
This Tongan tattoo is based on simple numerical values. It is just above the knee. These traditional Tongan tattoos are widespread and often seen by young men. The color of this tattoo is done with simple black ink but contains a lot of detail. As a whole, they look quite vibrant and beautiful.
People choose number tattoos for various personal reasons, although generally they don’t have any special meaning, only when they are special to the person who chose them. Some prefer a tattoo based on their lucky numbers, some on Roman numerals, some on their date of birth and so on.
Lotus Tongan Tattoo
Here in the picture we see a black Tonga influenced beautiful lotus flower tattoo. It has an intricate pattern and just like any other Tongan tattoo, this one requires a professional hand. Each petal of the flower is carefully designed with perfection. The details of the lotus flower are exquisitely followed by some additional designs at the bottom of the tattoo making it look even more amazing.
A lotus tattoo is a symbol of great awareness, receptivity, and edification. These flowers have symbolic meanings for many traditional religions such as Hinduism, Christianity and Buddhism. These tattoos also symbolize the faith and peace that should be spread among humanity all over the world.
Samoan tattoos
This is a full length Samoan tattoo. This tattoo is done with pure blank ink. The artist here is very skilled and has a good knowledge of traditional Samoan tattooing. This tattoo must have taken a lot of time and concentration as it covers a large part of the hand
The Samoan tattoo falls under the category of ancient traditional tattoos from the Polynesian islands. These Samoan tattoos represent power, trust, respect and glory and also mark the honor to be worn by Samoans. Nonetheless, nowadays people from all over the world including Europe, Asia and the United States have started to like these traditional tattoos. Samoan tattoos differ from the tattoos of Tongan society.
Tongan arm tattoo
It is a classic Tongan tattoo that runs from the shoulder to the forearm. People, mainly men, are attracted to this type of traditional Tonga tattoos as these tattoos symbolize strength and confidence. This tattoo has multiple patterns on it like the other tattoos; It also shows strength with a creative touch from the artist to make it look more attractive and add a modern element to it.
Arm tattoos are a manifestation of extreme bravery as they are almost impossible to hide. It is a common area where people prefer to get tattooed. Tongan tattoos symbolize strength and power while arm tattoos are also known to symbolize the same. Hence, people, mainly men, prefer this type of tattoos in this area to show off their masculinity.
Flower ankle Tongan tattoo
Not everyone likes colors on their Tongan tattoos, but some prefer them. This can be a perfect choice for those who would like to add a light touch of color to their tattoo. Located on the ankle, this tattoo has a similar shape to a knife. In addition, it has a beautiful floral pattern and a flower in the center of the foot. The flower is inked with faded black ink, and the rest of the tattoo is inked with light blue ink. Overall it looks very generous and if you are looking for something strong like a Tongan tattoo but also have a feminine touch, this Tongan tattoo is a perfect example.
Many people choose this spot to get tattooed because it is very subtle, easily hidden and more common in women. It also offers an aesthetic look to the viewer. Foot or ankle tattoos are very appealing to certain people.
Tongan shark tattoo
If uniqueness was shown with the help of a tattoo, this Tongan shark tattoo is the perfect example. It is a tattoo of a hammerhead shark which is said to be quite aggressive and powerful. Therefore, a tattoo of such an animal will reflect musculature. Its long tail, upper fin, fins and the rest of the body area are all inked with Tongan designs. This tattoo is very attractive and people who love animals especially aquatic animals would love to have this on them.
In Polynesian cultures, the hammerhead shark is considered their guardian. They believe that the hammerhead will protect people, especially swimmers and sailors, from the sharks that eat people. The sailors of the Tongan regions usually get this hammerhead shark tattoo as a sign of a talisman to protect themselves from danger when they are at sea.
Bird and Stingray Tongan Tattoo
This tattoo is a delight for people who love animals as well as traditional Tongan designs. The tattoo is inked on the back of the viewer and has covered a huge area. A giant stingray has been inked and every detail is beautifully executed. The stingray is colored with Tongan designs, and within it is a bird with fully spread wings showing great signs of freedom and purity.
A stingray tattoo symbolizes balance, control, self-confidence and the ability to protect one’s interests. A person with this tattoo will reflect their character. You don’t get yourself into conflict situations unnecessarily, but you don’t feel offended either. It shows how the viewer knows how to solve problems calmly and rationally. A bird tattoo, on the other hand, reflects success and aspiration. When these two animals are inked together with Tongan designs, it is a magnificent work of art that all animals and the peace loving people are easily attracted to.
Tongan lion tattoo
This tattoo is a delicious work of art for all lovers of the big cat family. This Tongan tattoo of a lion is depicted roaring and inked with black color. It is the epitome of lion symbolism. With the wonderful Tongan design, this tattoo has become even more outrageous and filled with Herculean qualities. Since this is a huge tattoo design, a larger body area is needed not only to fit it but also to present every detail of the tattoo clearly.
A lion tattoo reflects that the viewer is tough, tough, reliable and in complete control of their life. For some people, a lion tattoo is also a symbol of knowledge, strength, and integrity. The people of Tonga also believe that a lion tattoo shows the courage to face another new day after a daunting and tough challenge or task.
Nowadays, people are showing great interest in the traditional Tongan tattoo. The traditional tools used to make these tattoos back then were all made out of bone and turtle shells. Because the designs are usually huge, wonderful, and complete, they are generally painful to the viewer. Because of its gorgeous designs, it will always take a skillful tattoo artist to sketch but once done, these types of tattoos are considered to be some of the most elegant, stylish, graceful and decent in the world. Also, these tattoos are a great symbol of strength, courage and tenacity. Both men and women prefer these tattoos. So here are some other types of Tongan tattoos that you should definitely check out.
- Tongan warrior tattoo.
- Tongan arrow tattoo.
- Tongan lizard tattoo.
- Tongan snake tattoo.
- Tongan sword tattoo.
Featured image from Pinterest