The history and meaning of Filipino tattoos

Summary

Ancient Filipino tattooing practices, believed to be the origin of Southeast Asian and Pacific Island tattooing, were deeply rooted in spiritualism and cultural identity. Despite colonization and religious stigma leading to the loss of these traditions in many cultures, the Philippines' high mountain communities preserved these ancient arts. The process was sacred, involving prayers and omens, with tools made from natural materials. Tattoos symbolized status, spirituality, and beauty. Today, a resurgence led by young Filipinos like Lane Wilkin and Isla Rhoda is reviving these traditions, reconnecting with ancestral spirituality and challenging stereotypes.

Takeaways

• 🌐 Ancient Filipino tattooing is considered the origin of Southeast Asian and Pacific Island tattooing styles.
• 🔍 Tattooing was deeply connected to spiritualism, culture, and history in ancient cultures worldwide.
• 🌿 Traditional tattooing methods and symbolism have been lost in many cultures due to colonization and religious stigma.
• 📍 Southeast Asian tattooing can be traced back to migration paths through China, Borneo, Taiwan, into the Philippines, and out to the Pacific Islands.
• 🏞️ The word for tattoo in Polynesia often means to mark or strike, or to do what is right or correct.
• 🌱 The term 'Tata' in Filipino has roots in words meaning 'to mark' and 'truth'.
• ⛰️ In the high mountains of the Philippines, ancient tattooing traditions have been preserved despite Spanish colonization.
• 🙏 Tattooing in pre-colonial Philippines was a sacred event, involving omens, prayers, and blessings from ancestral spirits.
• 🛠️ Traditional tattooing tools included handles made from water buffalo horn or wood, needles from bamboo, brass, or thorns, and ink made with pine soot and water.
• 🐊 For the Bisaya people, tattoos like rows of triangles represented crocodile teeth or steps to the sky world, while for the Kalinga, a snake's forked tongue symbolized the guidance of ancestors.
• 🔥 There's a resurgence of interest in ancient Filipino tattooing, with younger generations like Lane Wilkin and Isla Rhoda helping to revive the practice.

Q & A

What is the significance of tattooing in ancient Filipino culture?

In ancient Filipino culture, tattooing was a widespread and accepted tradition that identified an individual's status in a tribe, their spiritual beliefs, and personal beauty. It was also considered an extension of their clothing.

How is tattooing in the Philippines connected to Southeast Asian and Pacific Island cultures?

It is believed that Southeast Asian tattooing can be traced back to migration paths that led early humans through China, Borneo, and Taiwan into the Philippines and out into the Pacific Islands, suggesting a shared origin of tattooing practices in these regions.

What challenges have ancient Filipino tattooing practices faced?

Ancient Filipino tattooing practices faced challenges such as the loss of traditional methods and symbolism due to colonization and religious stigma, with Spanish colonization nearly leading to their extinction.

What is the etymological origin of the word 'Tata' in the context of Filipino tattooing?

The word 'Tata' can be traced back to two Filipino words: 'tatak,' which means to mark or brand, and 'tatat,' which means truth. This suggests a deep connection between tattooing and truth or identity.

How did the Spanish colonization impact Filipino tattooing traditions?

Spanish colonization led to brutal cultural genocide, attempting to stop Filipinos from tattooing themselves, which nearly resulted in the loss of these ancient practices.

What materials were used in the traditional tattooing process in the Philippines?

Traditional tattooing tools in the Philippines included handles made from water buffalo horn or wood, needles made of bamboo, brass, or thorns, and ink made with pine soot and water held in a coconut shell.

What is the significance of the tattoos among the Visayan people?

The Visayan people were known as 'Los pentados' or 'the painted ones' due to their prominent tattoos. Their tattoos, such as rows of triangles called 'lobid,' represented crocodile teeth or steps of a rice terrace, symbolizing a ladder to the sky world where gods dwelled.

What do the tattoos of the Kalinga people represent?

For the Kalinga people, the forked tongue of a snake called 'kilene orog' was a physical avatar of one's ancestors, with the hissing sound of these snakes representing the whispering voices of ancestors guiding them through life.

What does the 'Epi beat' or scorpion tattoo symbolize for the Ifugao people?

The 'Epi beat' or scorpion tattoo of the Ifugao people of Northern Luzon symbolized the deadliness of the warrior wearing it.

How is the sun represented in Filipino spirituality and tattooing?

The sun is a central part of Filipino spirituality and was often tattooed, representing the 'kaluhatian' sky world where gods dwelled.

What is the current trend regarding ancient Filipino tattooing practices?

There is a resurgence of interest in ancient Filipino tattooing methods and their meaning, with younger generations like Lane Wilkin and Isla Rhoda helping to revive this deeply cultural, symbolic, and spiritual practice.