Ta Moko Research Paper

If you were interested in New Zealand, you have heard about Maori and Ta moko. The Maori is the word that the native people of New Zealand call themselves which means ‘natural’ or ‘normal’ in their language. They are the people who lived in Eastern Polynesia but migrated in order to find a new home. One of the Maori cultures is Ta moko that can called the definition of Maori culture such a full-body tattooing, performed on the faces and bodies, presenting one’s social status and status in their tribe. By the end of the 19th century, however, only Maori women wore Ta moko, which was the symbol of the Maori culture, while the Maori men stopped wearing traditional Ta moko. Thus, the Maori culture was in a state of steady decline and in danger of disappearing into extinction which continued until the late 20th century. I think they should do inherit the traditional culture Ta moko.

Before the mid-19th century, Ta moko was more important in Maori’s society than today. One is that Ta moko was kind of identification card. The site ‘Zealandtattoo’ says that “For men, their face tattoo showed their accomplishments, status, position, ancestry and marital status. It is considered highly insulting to be unable to recognize a person’s power and position by his moko.” It is like gat, Korean traditional hat made of bamboo and

Maori were used to use a tool called Uhi, the chisels, made of bone, stone and shell. However, by contacting with Pakeha, the European in New Zealand, Uhi was changed into metal, not stone and bone anymore. Moreover since 1980’s when it is ceremony, most of Maori use the paint, in other words, it is no more traditional Ta moko that had been fulfilled with the Uhi. They don’t use the implement which is Uhi anymore and it is almost not tattoo but painting that can erase unlike traditional Ta moko. It has changed easier and comfortable for them but why not inherit