Most critical people have always believed that tattoos on the skin of people are nothing but evil incarnate. Most of these people would not care to understand that many tribes used tattoos as a cultural expression to depict certain inspiring meanings. Tribal Tattoos and Tattoo Designs were specifically used to explain the fabric that held various tribes in all its color, design and splendor. And to therefore understand what the tattoo depictions and their meanings are, is to objectively consider, especially for the judgmental folks, that tattoos don’t just grace the biceps and backs for rappers and hooligans alone, but other good people who have something to say about their cultures.
The basic tribal tattoo is characterized by long and solid symmetrical designs which look like sharp piercing spears and glowing flames. These designs are derived from ancient tribal outfits which used the tattoos as a social distinguishing factor that basically showed that you belonged to the class of warriors and you – you belong to the wise men class. Moreover, the tattoos were a sign to galore the numerous achievements of a particular tribe probably over another and so on to the social stature of a tribesman. In the current and more civilized dispensation, Tribal art and Tattoos have grown or basically transformed into tattoos that are now used for artistic reasons. And looking at how solid and texturally beautiful and powerful the tattoos are and their designs showing certain exquisite intricacies, one could begin to understand why they are popular.
Tribal Tattoos and Tattoo Designs go back to the Egyptian super power era and then crossed to other nations with the same tenacity that it had in its inception. The basic symbolism of tribal art is now lost, only tribal scholars seem to understand them, and aesthetics has therefore taken hold of the essence of the tattoos. But if you are very keen, looking at the tribes in the world that still hold on to their cultures, tribes in West Africa, Asia and South America, you will still see their witchdoctors, hunters, chiefs and “warriors” still adorned in distinguishing tribal patterns.
Some basic meanings of Tribal Tattoos and Tattoo Designs
Tribal Tattoos and Tattoo Designs are touted as the first tattoos to ever see the earth’s face, and their beginnings can be abrogated to Africa, Japan, Cambodia, New Zealand, North America, Taiwan, South America, Philippines and Europe. The tattoos were also a defense of sorts against evil spirits that many tribes believed would attack a tribesman if he did not arm himself with the right tattoos. In fact, the tattoos were considered as a means to getting intimate with the gods as they were believed to carry powers of magic that the tribes people believed came from their gods. With such a superstitious streak, you can begin to appreciate the importance and paramount feeling of tribal art tattoos. The designs there of were a reflection of the magic, spirits and presence of gods in different shades and forms, all in a bid to make an abode of the gods.
The western culture can be said to have killed the cultural inclinations and meanings of the tribal tattoos and done away with the gods and evil spirit that the said tattoos expressed and valued. As earlier mentioned, the tattoos are now viewed and marked simply for decorative and aesthetic reasons alone. The rest could be said to be now sealed in the deep annals of history, only to be thought over and not to be reincarnated.
When you think of Tribal Tattoos and Tattoo Designs, the most renowned tattoos are the Tribal Dragon Tattoos that you could see, especially in the Kung Fu movies or action movies with the Yakuza “Mafia.” Then, there is the Tribal Sun Tattoos and the Tribal Cross Tattoos that were more of a religious, god’s agent of expression, and lastly the Tribal Scorpion Tattoos of especially Asia and South America origins showing the strength of the warrior and his “scorpionic” stealth. Of course the four are just representatives of the so many other tribal images that graced the earth with their full glory and splendor.
Even women were included in the sphere of tribal tattoos acquisition and the moon, sun, claws and stars were some predominant forms of tattoos for them. These women forms are still common in the current aesthetic dispensation and you can see this on the skins of many young ladies. In the ancient tribal tattoos period, black was the sole color used to mark out the tattoo forms. However, for the aesthetic times and especially for women, more colors have been added to create a feminine feeling of creativity and variety. And since women value adornment, the tattoos are inked on their necks, legs, arms, wrists and chest among other areas. The designs also have a feminine touch with butterflies and personalized tribal tattoos with initials being the most common.
